Sandy business awarded Barbados National Heroes Square Monument contract

A Sandy based business Cambridge Corten (CC) was awarded a contract to design and supply metalwork for the newly unveiled Barbados National Heroes Square Monument: A Triumph in Urban Renewal.

Weighing 6.5 tonnes and shipped by air, the monument was unveiled by the Barbados Prime Minister on November 28 ahead of Barbados Independence Day on November 30.

The monument, featuring Corten steel, was devised as a celebration of Barbados’ historic transition to a republic in 2021 and, as part of an urban renewal project in Bridgetown. The focus of the project was the transformation of National Heroes Square, formerly known as Trafalgar Square, commemorating the Barbadian Family as the ultimate national hero.

Designers Hugh Holder and Vincent Jones, won a national design competition to create a monument on the site previously occupied by the statue of Admiral Lord Nelson and removed in 2020. The project, managed by the winning designers and Natron Inc, introduced a revolutionary blend of concrete and Corten weathering steel – a novel material renowned for its sustainable and low-maintenance properties.

Mark McKeown, Cambridge Corten managing director, said: “I’m really proud of our business in Sandy, achieving this project both on time, and to specification. “We won a three-way global pitch – the only UK business asked to quote, proving that UK manufacturers still have a lot to offer.

“Our staff are all local, and have worked for the business for many years. A great team. Thank you. This installation will be a focal point in Bridgetown for decades – a nice legacy for Cambridge Corten Ltd.”

Cambridge Corten (CC), is a fast growing start-up business specialising in bespoke projects using the unique Corten steel material.

The design honours the Barbadian Family as the foundation ‘from which all national heroes emerged’. Large metal shackles symbolised the struggle against slavery, while intricately lasered ‘Steles’ pays tribute to the 11 national heroes of Barbados, including the latest addition, Rihanna, recognised in 2021. The project took three months from concept to unveiling.

Corten was originally developed in the 1930s by the United States Steel Corporation, and once primarily used for railway coal wagons.