The statues, described by locals as “freaky”, “creepy” and “spooky” by some and “brilliant” by others, quickly became a talking point on social media, with people speculating about where they had come from and why they had been placed there.
Several residents questioned whether the figures were connected to Stori Brymbo, and others pointing to an alien invasion.
While one commenter from Ffrith made a tongue-in-cheek reference to Doctor Who’s infamous Weeping Angels, writing: “Whatever you do… DON’T BLINK!!”.
Mysterious statues appear in Brymbo (Image: Holly Jones)
It has now been confirmed that the figures were part of One Man Army, a travelling sculptural installation by Northern Irish artist Colin Spofforth.
The project explores Britain’s lost industrial and social heritage, with each site featuring up to fifteen life-size figures.
The sculptures are designed as solemn, penitent forms emerging from the ground and are installed in locations once alive with work and community, including former power stations, dockyards, quarries and abandoned farms.
According to the artist, the installation aims to reflect on the relationship between people, place and history, using sculpture to reconnect communities with landscapes shaped by industry.
It is filmed and shared across social media platforms, blending sculpture, location and public reaction into short films that ask how art can reconnect people with their surroundings and with each other.
Mysterious statues in Brymbo (Image: Holly Jones)
Brymbo’s installation sat opposite the historic steelworks site, an area deeply rooted in the village’s industrial past, making it one of several locations across the UK chosen for its historical significance.
The installation has since been removed over the weekend, but it had sparked a lot of conversation among residents and visitors, with many stopping to take photos and share their reactions online.