Pantperthog Village Hall Presents Community Mural to Machynlleth Railway Station

£500 grant project brings intergenerational community members together to create heritage artwork celebrating the Cambrian Line.

Pantperthog Village Hall presented an intergenerational collage mural to Machynlleth railway station on 15 October, celebrating local railway heritage through a grant-funded community art project.

The artwork was made possible by a £500 grant from the Cambrian Railway Partnership’s Railway 200 Community Grant Fund, funded by Transport for Wales. Created over the winter of 2025/2026, the initiative brought together community members, hall user groups and alumni to collaborate during the winter months. Participants ranged in age from four to over seventy, representing eight different village hall user groups.

Led by local artist Emma Worthington, the project comprised three distinct sessions: two small-group workshops focusing on preparation and finishing, and one large-scale workshop where intergenerational participants built the central panels.

The resulting collage incorporates torn magazines and promotional leaflets layered over a structural master drawing. Rectangular strips reminiscent of railway tracks outline the composition, which depicts three historical locomotives operated on the Cambrian Line set against and early cartographic map of the railway and its surrounding landscape.

Tegwen Brickley, Chair of Pantperthog Village Hall said: “We were delighted to be awarded the grant and loved working with community artist Emma. It was a special gathering together across generations and different groups all of whom love the village hall and benefit from it as a venue.”

Emma Worthington, Artist, said: “It was community art at its best, people that didn’t know each other that well coming together, crafting, chatting and sharing. Possibly their paths may not have crossed if it wasn’t for this project and we are grateful for the opportunity.”

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Deb Justice, Community Rail Development Officer for the Cambrian Railway Partnership said: “It was a great Railway 200 project, and we are pleased that it's been put up in Machynlleth railway station for everyone to see. Thank you to Tegwen and Emma and everyone who took part in making such a beautiful piece of artwork.”

Melanie Lawton, Community Rail Strategy Lead for Transport for Wales said: “Stations sit right at the heart of the communities they serve, so it’s wonderful to see local history brought to life like this at Machynlleth. We wanted the Railway 200 Community Grant Fund to help groups celebrate rail heritage in their own way, and this mural gives passengers and locals something really special to enjoy.”

The mural was formally offered for display at Machynlleth railway station during a gathering attended by project participants, community representatives and rail industry partners.