An iconic sculpture in Trafford Park has been lifted back into place in a huge operation two years after it was removed.
The Sky Hooks were unveiled at the entrance to the historic Trafford Park industrial estate, close to Old Trafford football ground and what is now Victoria Warehouse, in 1995 to mark the regeneration of the area.
The 18 metre high hook and chains were the brainchild of artist Brian Fell. They were a nod to the area's industrial heritage with the title and concept based on the common practical joke in many factories and workplaces of sending a new member of staff to 'buy some sky hooks.'
One of the pair of sculptures, situated either side of the former Trafford Park Telephone Exchange building, at the junction of Trafford Park Road and Trafford Road, was removed two years ago whilst work began on the new No1. Trafford development.
The development consists of two tower blocks of apartments and amenities overlooking Salford Quays and are now nearing completion.
Bosses said it took a week to remove the structure, which was sat on a five metre deep reinforced concrete block. Work was carried out at the time to make reinstalling it an easier task, including installing four 15 metre deep piles.
It has been in storage since.
However, re-installation was still a major logistical operation as the popular sculpture was brought on the back a huge lorry on Friday before being slowly lifted back into position using a large crane as its designer watched on.
Brian Fell told the Manchester Evening News: "I am delighted it is back in place.
"Sometimes when things like that are removed they end up gone forever.
"But without wanting to blow my own trumpet I think they are popular, and people would have been annoyed had it not been.
"I came down to watch and even the crane drivers were saying how much they loved it, as they remembered walking past it on their way to United games."
Lee McCarren, Managing Director at Domis Construction said: "We are proud as our project NO1 Old Trafford comes to completion we have been able to reinstate the iconic sky hook sculpture.
"The sculpture has been safely stored during the construction phase and was removed around two years ago under the watchful eye of Brian Fell- the original Artist .
"The original sculpture was sat on a 5m deep reinforced concrete block which took a full week to break out.
"Knowing we were going to reinstall the sculpture we engineered a pile solution during construction; installing 4 CFA piles around 15m deep with a pile cap and holding bolts readily cast in- this meant the re installation was a simpler task and the base structure could be fixed in immediately.
"We are delighted the Sky Hook has been reinstated and hope the community will enjoy the sculpture for years to come.”
