Artworks

Giving the Path an identity

The Bristol & Bath Railway Path has proved to be a source of inspiration to many artists and craftspeople who have created over a dozen pieces of public art along the route. Some of the most significant were developed by Katy Hallet for Sustrans. Katy worked with several local schools to develop the distinctive logo for the Path that is replicated on top left corner of this website in addition to the many marker posts on the route.

The Interpretation Project

The Avon Valley Partnership was successful in securing Heritage Lottery Fund money to create eight pairs of interpretive panels along the route. The stands were specially commissioned from Steve Joyce to reflect the colours of the old Midland Railway. Time capsules produced by children local to each panel are buried beneath. Communities along the Path helped to identify stories and images relevant to the locality. The project was managed by Ruth Coleman & Peter Milner.

Staple Hill seating

If you journey along the Path to Staple Hill platform today you will find handsome seats by sculptor Steve Joyce. Part of the inspiration for the design came from work with Year 5 pupils at Staple Hill Primary School, spring 2004.The pupils visited the station area and then went on to explore the idea of 'tracks' and other related themes in a set of arts workshops.

Gaius Sentius

Centurian drinking fountain near Warmley marks the crossing of a Roman road. It was sculpted by Gordon Young and was commissioned by Sustrans. There's a picture of this and Steve Joyce's Dancing Drum fountain at Easton in the pictures at the top of this website's home page.

Fish on Nose by Doug Cocker

(right)
On the site of old Fishponds Station, a brick fish diving into a pond. A time capsule collected by local children is concreted in its belly.

Sentinals 1 & II by Jim Paulsen

(left)

Sculpture Trail

Local artists, some in conjunction with local schools, have created sculptures reflecting the character of the Path. A leaflet Art & the Traveling Landscape - the Bristol & Bath Railway Path is available from Sustrans: (0117) 929 0888. Sustrans continue to foster public art along other National Cycle Routes. Their website also holds a searchable database of artworks and other features of the Path which forms part of The West Country Way.

Mangotsfield Station

The ruins at this junction on the old railway line have a special atmosphere. John Grimshaw of Sustrans has celebrated this with trees, echoes of the old cast iron columns which once supported a vast glazed roof over the busy station. Decorative grills by Katy Hallett and Mangotsfield School replace the broken iron tracery in the station's old stone facade.

Art on the Ring Road

The building of the Avon Ring Road around Bristol's east fringe created opportunties for large scale public art projects on disrupted landscapes that could remember the area's heritage. This 'bird's eye view' model is of Lorna Green's spectacular earthwork near Mangotsfield. A leaflet, Public Art Features - Ring Road Stage 11 is available from South Gloucestershire Arts Development Unit: (01454) 865835.