Ask people from Mexborough what they remember most fondly about the town and the answers come quickly.

Saturday afternoons spent browsing through Woolworths. The excitement of a trip to the Empire or Majestic cinema. Dancing the night away on the Empress Ballroom’s iconic sprung dancefloor. The Yorkshire rose on the Hillards or Tesco building. A visit to Madame Florence’s boutique or watching her famous fashion shows. The vibrant music scene in the 1980s and ‘90s. The buzz of a busy high street where everyone seemed to know everyone else.

These memories, shared by Mexborough residents during a series of community consultations, paint a picture of a town rich in culture, character and community spirit.

They also form the inspiration behind an ambitious new creative pathway programme that aims to celebrate Mexborough’s past while helping to shape its future.

Delivered as part of the Levelling Up programme and coordinated by Fox Gallery, the project brings together artists, schools, businesses and local organisations to celebrate the stories, memories and creativity that have helped define Mexborough over generations.

From striking new murals, information boards and a family treasure trail to public realm improvements and support for local businesses, the programme aims to inspire pride in place and encourage people to rediscover Mexborough’s unique identity.

One of the most visible aspects of the programme will be the creation of three large-scale murals by award-winning street artist Peachzz. These will be on the library building, the exterior of the market hall, and the Dante Furniture building.

Best known for her nature-themed mural Reverie, the beautiful heron overlooking Sheffield Pound Park, Peachzz, aka Megan Russell, has been working with residents and school students to come up with three different concepts that celebrate Mexborough’s character and heritage.

Drawing on stories gathered, the library mural will focus on the natural environment, the mural at the market hall will be all about industry and community, while the Dante building will depict the town’s social history.

A community art installation has also been created with the support of Michelle Chalmers-Dunn at Cre8ive You CIC. Michelle ran workshops last year, inviting residents to add their own contribution to Mexborough’s creative story. The finished piece will be displayed in the town centre.

Mexborough-born ceramicist Angie Hardwick has also been working with All Hands on the Don, the Don Catchment Rivers Trust and the wider Mexborough community to create a nature-themed sculpture that will be house in Mexborough Library.

Another significant element of the programme is the creation of a new pocket park in York Square. Inspired by Saxon guitarist Graham Oliver and his love of ceramics, particularly Swinton’s Rockingham Pottery, the space will provide an attractive new destination for residents and visitors with greenery, new paving and potential scope for outdoor performances.

The voices of Mexborough’s younger generation will also help tell the town’s story through a new children’s book. Students from five local primary schools have been working alongside children’s author and illustrator Phil Shepherd to explore what Mexborough means to them, adding their own chapter to a story that continues to evolve.

Families will be able to discover the town in a new way through a specially designed treasure trail map. Combining discovery, heritage and creativity, the trail will guide participants through Mexborough’s streets, highlighting points of interest and encouraging people to engage with the town’s history and public spaces.

Alongside the cultural projects, investment is also being made in the appearance of the town centre. A new shop frontage improvement scheme is offering grants of up to £10,000 for eligible high street tenants, helping businesses enhance their premises and contribute to a more attractive and vibrant town centre.

This comes at a time when the town centre is undergoing significant regeneration works thanks to £24 million investment from the government and City of Doncaster Council. Plans are in place to overhaul the market and replace the multi-storey car park with a surface level car park, while cycle lanes are being installed on the dual carriageway as part of the active travel scheme.

Support for the programme has also come from Taylor Woodrow’s social value team. As the civil engineering contractor delivering many of Mexborough’s infrastructure improvements, Taylor Woodrow has contributed funding towards elements of the project to ensure the regeneration delivers not only physical improvements but also lasting benefits for the community.

As the various strands of the project develop, Fox Gallery will continue its role as a hub for creativity and community engagement.

This autumn, the gallery will host an exhibition showcasing artwork created during community workshops, alongside work by the professional artists involved in the programme and a display by Mexborough Heritage Society.

The exhibition will provide an opportunity for residents to see the outcomes of the project, celebrate local talent and reflect on the stories that have inspired the work.

Following on from the creative pathways programme, Mexborough is set to receive another £20 million over the next ten years as part of the government’s Pride in Place programme. This will be used to revitalise the high street, improve green spaces and parks, and invest in community facilities, with local residents encouraged to have their say in where money is most needed.