A PICK, THE PIKE AND A PEAR TREE
Dufton | 2023–ongoing

A £240,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund project connecting St Cuthbert’s Church with geology, lead mining, farming, land and stewardship.

A Pick, the Pike and a Pear Tree is a long-term church, heritage and community project centred on St Cuthbert’s Church in Dufton.

The £240,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund project connects five fields: geology, lead mining, farming, land and stewardship. Capital works will allow the church to operate as a year-round church, heritage and community venue. The wider programme includes walks, seasonal gatherings, a community archive, interpretation, an outdoor shelter and future site-responsive work.

Dawn Hurton originated the project and carried much of its early vision, consultation, development and funding work. Her continuing role is creative and interpretive: shaping public art, story, place-based activity and the ways knowledge is gathered and presented.

Day-to-day project management and governance sit with the delivery structure and PCC.

The project shows Hurton working at institutional and community scale while maintaining a clear artistic position.