‘Jolly Pinder of Wakefield’ set to go on permanent display at WX
Plans to put a giant ‘Jolly Pinder of Wakefield’ sculpture on permanent display at Wakefield Exchange (WX) have been submitted.
The 4m-long fibreglass work by city-born artist Jason Wilsher-Mills will be suspended from the canopy of the venue’s covered outdoor market area if the scheme is approved by council planners.
According to legend, the Jolly Pinder fought Robin Hood before being invited to join his Merry Men.
A planning statement submitted to Wakefield Council said: “The proposal will enhance the public realm at WX, contribute to the strength of the cultural offer of Wakefield city centre, encourage engagement with public art, and further strengthen Wakefield’s reputation as the UK’s capital of sculpture.
“The Jolly Pinder comes from a medieval ballad in which a Pinder (someone in charge of rounding up stray farm animals) declares that no one will dare trespass on Wakefield under his watchful eye.
“Robin Hood and his Merry Men hear the Pinder’s words and challenge him. After besting them in a fight, The Pinder is invited to join their band.”
Wilsher-Mills was confined to a wheelchair at 11 years old after being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition triggered by chickenpox.
Through brightly coloured psychedelic inflatables, sculptures and interactive digital projections, his work celebrates disability, northern working-class heritage, popular culture and social history.
An inflatable version of the Pinder featured in the artist’s Jason and the Wakefield Adventure exhibition at WX in 2025, which was viewed by around 100,000 people over 11 weeks.
The report added: “This significant new addition will further strengthen Wakefield’s distinctive public art offer, deepen the artist’s connection with the city, highlight heritage of the Pinder, and create another landmark attraction for residents and visitors.”
Commenting on his creation in June last year, Wilsher-Mills told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The Pinder may be a mythological character, but it’s a character about caring for the community.
“The Pinder’s job was to look after stray animals and I like that.
“We had the Pinder’s Field, which then became Pinderfields Hospital.
“I was in there for a year when I was 11 years old, completely paralysed from the neck down.
“I wasn’t given much of a future.
“But, bless the NHS, my mum and dad and all the people who cared for me, I pulled through.
“I’m a 56-year-old geezer now who is making art out of all those experiences that I went through.
“I’m tipping my hat to Pinderfields Hospital to say thank you.”