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Home  >  Blog  >  Discovering sculptures in Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough

Discovering sculptures in Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough

Trish Burgess Posted on26/11/201830/11/2018 Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Sculptures in Peterborough 14 Comments
Peterborough sculptures, Miles Davies
Untitled 1990 – Miles Davies

Ever since we moved to South Lincolnshire in the late 1980s I’ve paid regular visits to Ferry Meadows in Peterborough. I used to meet a friend of mine there with our children; initially in prams, then buggies, scooters and bikes. During that time I never thought to check out Thorpe Meadows, just a short distance away. It’s home to Peterborough City Rowing Club and their impressive 1km rowing lake. But it’s also the location for 17 public sculptures.

We have the Peterborough Development Corporation to thank for the original collection. The corporation was created in 1968 to expand the city and during 1978 to 1988 they purchased sculptures by major British artists for permanent display throughout the city. Peterborough Sculpture Trust was created in 1988 to continue this work by maintaining the collection and adding to it to enhance the appreciation of the arts in and around the city. There now look after about 26 pieces.

Dougie and I decided it was high time we took a drive to Thorpe Meadows and see some of the work on display. There’s a car park on site which gives free parking for an hour. This is just about enough time to walk the length of the lake and back at a brisk pace. If you think you need more time, it will cost £2.50. If you’re planning to visit either the hotel or pub which are also located at Thorpe Meadows, they have their own provision for car parking: I think it’s free for both but you’ll need a token for the hotel car park.

Most of the sculptures are situated between the rowing course and the River Nene and there’s a map you can print off to guide you. It’s worth remembering that some of the pieces are over 30 years old now and have weathered over time. One wooden piece was in need of repair and some sculptures had been further adorned with graffiti. I imagine there is a constant ‘to do’ list for the authorities.

Festival boat by Sokari Douglas Camp

One of the most striking pieces, purchased in 1988, is Festival Boat by Sokari Douglas Camp. It’s inspired by ceremonial boats in Nigeria, where the artist was born. When I shared this photo recently, people thought it looked like an upturned, bloated cow or a rack of lamb. Maybe this photo, from another angle, looks more nautical.

End view of Festival boat by Sokari Douglas Camp

Sokari has since been awarded a CBE for her services to art and her work is in collections at The Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. and the British Museum in London.

A more recent acquisition is Cormorant by Elizabeth Cooke. Bought in 2007, this sculpture is perfectly placed by the water where real cormorants can be spotted. Elizabeth works from her studio at her home in Bury St Edmunds.

Cormorant sculpture by Elizabeth Cooke, in Peterborough

One of our favourites was Quarry by Simon Perry, depicting a wolf emerging from a stone block. Simon studied sculpture at Chelsea School of Art and the Royal Academy, London. The main focus of his practice is the research, design and production of large-scale public artwork. He is now based in Australia and it’s been fascinating to learn about his career and find his art in cities Down Under.

sculpture of a wolf, Quarry, by Simon Perry

Nearby is Little Prince, a steel sculpture the corporation bought in 1985 from Jane Ackroyd. It represents the book written by Antoine de Saint Exupery. The tree, asteroid and pyramid are elements of the story incorporated into the work. Jane specialises in both abstract and figurative steel sculpture. She studied at St. Martins College and subsequently the Royal College of Art and has numerous awards and successful public and private commissions.

Little Prince sculpture by Jane Ackroyd

We were pleasantly surprised by Thorpe Meadows. Even without the artwork, it’s a super place for a walk, to admire the lake and watch the swans and geese. The sculptures are an added bonus: a testament to the vision of the Peterborough Development Corporation and the continued dedication of the Peterborough Sculpture Trust.


Rowing course at Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough

This article previously appeared, in a shortened version, as a column piece for Trish Takes Five in the Lincolnshire Free Press. 

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14 Comments

  1. Catherine’s Cultural Wednesdays Reply
    30/11/2018 at 7:57 am

    What a fantastic thing for a city to do, I like the Cormorant best. Thank you for linking up to #CulturedKids

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      30/11/2018 at 11:28 am

      My dad originally came from Peterborough so I remember the city expanding a lot when I was a little girl and we visited family here. I then worked in the city in the 80s, completely oblivious of the art-buying that was going on. Good to eventually see then, though I feel a bit ashamed it took me so long.

  2. Vyki from Museum Mum Reply
    30/11/2018 at 9:22 am

    Art AND nature, two of my favourite things! And an hour’s walk sounds like just the right length for our family. I had never heard of Thorpe Meadows before, so thanks for introducing me to it #CulturedKids

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      30/11/2018 at 11:29 am

      An hour’s fairly quick walk but definitely doable as I faffed about taking photos! I think I’d take my time if I go again and have a pub lunch!

  3. Emma Raphael Reply
    30/11/2018 at 10:44 am

    Funny how we constantly discover new things on our doorstep. This looks fabulous. I love sculpture so this is right up my street. I even love the bloated cow, although I am not sure I want it in my garden. Thanks so much for joining in with #culturedkids

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      30/11/2018 at 11:32 am

      Happens to me all the time. A few of the sculptures did look a bit worse for wear but I suppose that’s inevitable when they in a public space, in all weathers, for 30 years. In fact it was refreshing to see them looking a bit weathered and lived-in, probably what sculptures should be like.
      I’d have the wolf in my garden – I liked him.

  4. Scarlett Roitman Reply
    30/11/2018 at 11:23 am

    Never heard of Thorpe Meadows. What a find, and a great way for kids to experience nature and art at the same time. Love the Petit Prince sculpture. Thanks for linking up with #CULTUREDKIDS

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      30/11/2018 at 11:34 am

      There are some lovely areas on the outskirts of Peterborough with lakes and walking/bicycle paths. We always visited the same one and never this one – how mad is that!

  5. Annabel Reply
    30/11/2018 at 10:48 pm

    I love the wolf! It’s lovely to finally visit places you’ve heard about but never got round to visiting, it’s always surprising how much we have on our doorsteps. #Culturedkids

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      04/12/2018 at 3:58 pm

      It’s clever, isn’t it – having the wolf appear from the rock, rather than just have a sculpture of the animal itself.
      As always, we find some interesting places when we do some backyard blogging!

  6. Tanja/The Red Phone Box travels Reply
    01/12/2018 at 8:55 pm

    nature and art combined!excellent! #culturedkids

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      04/12/2018 at 3:59 pm

      I love seeing sculptures outdoors, especially when they start to blend in with their surroundings.

  7. Sharon Reply
    06/12/2018 at 5:28 pm

    My favorite is the wolf emerging from the stone block. It’s appealing and detailed. What a fun place to visit!

  8. Pingback: Mum's Gone To: The Kelpies and The Falkirk Wheel - Mum's Gone To ...

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