A BARROW art group celebrated working class culture by erecting a five-metre tall replica of a terraced house.

On a sunny day earlier this week an inflatable terraced house made entirely of PVC appeared in Arthur Street.

The house, designed by the director of Barrow arts group Art Gene, Maddi Nicholson, made a brief stop in town before it moves on to be installed in the Tullie Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle.

Ms Nicholson spoke about what motivated her to create such a unique art piece.

She said: "I get really interested by houses and space in structures. I live in a terraced house myself.

"The idea of taking it out of a terrace and putting it in a new, beautfiful space - and how people's perceptions change - is always interesting."

The terraced house is deeply associated with working class culture, not only in the north west, but across the entire country.

Ms Nicholson said: "I feel quite proud about this housing; it's very working class. I like that I can erect it where it shouldn't be."

In the places the house has been put up, it has always drawn inquisitive crowds of people wondering what was going on.

The ability of the installation to spark a conversation is exactly what Ms Nicholson wanted.

She said: "Anything that is inflatable brings a sense of joy when people see it.

"What's lovely about taking art work out is that it elicits a conversation about it."

The house has been placed in several places around the area including its spot on Arthur Street, and on the beach at Roanhead.

Councillor David Pidduck, leader of Barrow Borough Council, was enthusiastic over the installation.

He said: "We do as best we can with the cuts that we are faced with to support the arts. They are an important part of this town.

"Terraced houses are iconic. People from them can achieve great things. I would very much support what Maddi has said about them."

Ms Nicholson was very clear that the installation was not in any way political.

But it has drawn to light the still vacant space where new houses were meant to be built more than three years ago.

Mr Pidduck, however, has said that the council remains "open for business" and is working to develop the site.

He said: "We had disappointment from the private sector. At this moment in time we're trying to market the site again."

The Going Back Home exhibition will now move to The Rheged Centre in Penrith where it will stay for two weeks from September 9.

Before the installation left Barrow Ms Nicholson wanted to thank the council for their support.

She said: "Thank you to Barrow Borough Council for letting us use the site."

Read more:

Plans put on hold at Arthur Road site building work.