THE CONCRETE COWS

Over the years Milton Keynes has become renowned if not infamous for the concrete cows, but like much of the New City they have now acquired something of a history of their own. They were made by Liz Leyh, a Canadian born artist/sculptress at Stacey Hill Farm, now the home of Milton Keynes Museum, when the farmhouse was used by various artists and writers in residence who were employed by Milton Keynes Development Corporation. The present period schoolroom was used as an artists studio, and Liz made the cows, a somewhat obese pig in the same material (which proved too large to exit the farmhouse door) and the snowman made for her daughter. This survives at the Museum, near the entrance, and was refurbished in 1999 by local artist Bill Billings with the help of several schoolchildren.

The farmhouse was also home over many years for the late Jack Trevor Storey, the noted writer who authored 'The Trouble with Harry' and many other books, as well as scripting a number of Dr.Who episodes.

During their lifetime the cows have lead a rather adventurous lifestyle, kidnapped and held to ransom on occasion, placed in somewhat compromising poses, not to mention the occasional wanton vandalism and periodic repainting. They have often featured as headline news to the national media, keen to brand the city with a rather quirky image. Today they graze in peace close to the place of their birth, in relative anonymity apart from the occasional glance from the passing motorists.