The Knife Angel Exhibition is now on display in The Square in Shrewsbury, giving residents, schools and community groups a public space to reflect on knife crime before the sculpture leaves on Friday 31 July.
The 27ft-high winged figure, created by sculptor Alfie Bradley and made locally at the British Ironworks Centre in Oswestry, is formed from 100,000 seized knives and blades. It has been brought to the county town by Shrewsbury Town Council and is described as a National Monument against violence and aggression.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Knife Angel Exhibition |
| Venue | The Square, Shrewsbury |
| End date | Friday 31 July 2026 |
| Time | No set visiting times stated in the source |
| Cost | Free |
| Entry | Open to the public |
| Suggested audience | Residents, schools and community groups |
A 27ft sculpture built from seized blades
The Knife Angel has been touring the UK since December 2018. Its return to Shropshire carries a local connection: the sculpture was made at the British Ironworks Centre in Oswestry before becoming a travelling memorial for those affected by knife crime.
In Shrewsbury, the sculpture is being used to prompt conversations about violence, exploitation and the risks linked to carrying knives. Shropshire Council said knife crime levels in the county are lower than nationally reported, but added that incidents do happen and awareness remains part of prevention work.
The piece is not a conventional gallery exhibit. Its scale, material and setting make it a public encounter in the centre of town, where passers-by can see the blades that form the figure and the memorial purpose behind it.
Schools and community groups are being encouraged to attend
Shropshire Council’s exploitation and education services are encouraging schools, community groups and residents to visit the Knife Angel while it is in Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury Town Council is also offering knife awareness sessions to all schools.
The council linked the exhibition to wider local prevention work. Its TREES programme, Together, Reducing and Ending Exploitation in Shropshire, worked with partners for three months in Sundorne and Harlescott on community safety, including reducing knife-related incidents.
Steer Clear, a Shropshire Council partner working with under-18s in West Mercia to reduce serious youth violence including knife crime, worked with 30 young people from Shropshire in the 2025-2026 financial year. Since January 2024, it has worked with 91 children in total.
David Shaw, Director of Children’s Services at Shropshire Council, said the council’s exploitation and education teams and partners support young people who feel compelled to carry knives, including those who fear exploitation or bullying. “We are there to provide targeted help in communities that need it,” he said.
How to see the Knife Angel in Shrewsbury
The exhibition is located in The Square, Shrewsbury, and is free to visit. The source describes it as open to the public, with the sculpture remaining in the town until Friday 31 July 2026.
No booking requirement, accessibility information, food provision or specific visiting hours were stated in the source text. Residents who have concerns or want support regarding exploitation and knife crime are directed by Shropshire Council to the TREES page on the council website.
Source: Shropshire Council Newsroom
Source check Source trail
This event preview is based on Shropshire Council’s published notice and the verified event brief.
- Confirmed the venue as The Square in Shrewsbury.
- Confirmed the exhibition remains in Shrewsbury until Friday 31 July 2026.
- Confirmed the source states the event is free and open to the public.
- No visiting hours, booking details or accessibility information were added where the sourc...
- Source
- Shropshire Council Newsroom
- Scope
- Shrewsbury
- Updated
- 2026-07-01 15:27
Source check
Report a trust issue
Send a clear signal to community moderation if the source, facts or context need review.
Comments