h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am amazed I have been a visitor to meadowhall
shopping centre ever since it opened,and still go at least once a week without fail.
I know the statues you talk of well but the announcement over the tannoy about losing family & friends etc I cannot remember hearing that in a long while.
Im from sheffield and in all my years of shopping at the centre I never really knew why the bronze statues were there or the story behind them.
But I do now so hence the saying "you learn something new everyday"and today that saying is true.

Thanks!
But I guess I'd better check on the currency of the announcements.
(I'm not such a regular visitor, though thanks to wife+daughters my bank manager would be surprised to hear it)
Pin

how much did one weigh and was it a status symbol to have one or just a tradition?

You mean the crucible itself?
I guess it would weigh about 2-3 kg.
There are still a few around, matt glazed and kept for posterity (unless glazed, they deteriorate if exposed to cold or damp).
They can be used decoratively as vases and urns, if you stick a bottom on them. There are stories about steelmen's ashes being kept in them.
Similar crucibles for related smelting purposes are still made, too, though the working environment in which they're used has wholly changed.