The Mythic Coast
NAME : The Sea Swallow, The Ogre, The Ogre's Paddle, Mary's Shell, Fylde Shipwreck Memorial, Sea Swallow birds and Sea Swallow Book DATE : 2012 CLIENT : Wyre Council LOCATION : Cleveleys Promenade PARTNERS : BCA Landscape, Studio Three Architects (now EWA), Chris Brammall Ltd, John Merrill, Adrian Wright, Author - Gareth Thompson, Illustrator - Hannah Megee, Publishers - Litfest
The Mythic Coast is an ongoing project conceived by Stephen Broadbent and forms part of a cultural vision and strategy document created by the studio for the Wyre Coastline and linked to the ongoing sea defence works in Cleveleys.
This vision document formed the basis of a successful Sea Change funding application, which recognised schemes that have the potential to regenerate seaside towns through cultural and environmental enhancements. The Sea Change grant funded three distinct projects, an observation tower at Rossall Point, the regeneration of Marine Hall Gardens, Fleetwood and the Mythic Coast Art project.
The Sea Swallow book
In July 2011, copies of 'The Sea Swallow', written by Gareth Thompson and illustrated by Hannah Magee, were given to 4,200 Wyre schoolchildren aged 7 – 11. The book is also available to buy online.
Hannah’s designs also provide the inspiration for a trail of Mythic Coast artworks. Allowing people to 'walk' the story, with sculptural prompts for the imagination along the way - Shipwrecks, Sea Swallows, The Seashell, The Ogre and The Paddle all reflect elements of the book.
The Sea Swallow - Sculpture
The Sea Swallow is a 10 metre tall structure that brings to life Wyre’s Mythic Coast storybook ‘The Sea Swallow’. The coated aluminium sculpture has the feel of 'a book coming to life', with the two sea swallows symbolic of the town’s protectors emerging from the page.
The sculpture is inspired by the final paragraph of ‘The Sea Swallow’ book ‘For at night they stand together on the sea wall, as if protecting the town with their great white wings.’
This feature acts as a visual beacon to draw people from the town centre to the sea front. The granite was supplied by Hardscape and the aluminium structure fabricated and installed by Chris Brammall Limited of Cumbria.
The Ogre
The Ogre is the big baddy of the Mythic Coast story created by author Gareth Thompson and illustrated by Hannah Magee. He stirs up the sea with his giant paddle threatening the whole Wyre waterfront community, only to be thwarted by the story's hero Mary and her golden shell.
The ogre is one of a series of artworks and features that animate the Mythic Coast story trail along Cleveleys promenade in Lancashire. It was hand carved from a single 15 ton block of limestone by the stonemason Adrian Wright and installed below the tide line on Cleveleys beach.
The Ogre’s Paddle
The ogres paddle is another visual prop to the Sea swallow story set along Wyre's Mythic coast. The paddle was carved and fabricated in purple heart in our studio by the woodcarver John Merrill.
Mary’s Shell
Mary is the hero of the Mythic Coast story and her adventure to save the town from a devastating tsunami depended on capturing the Golden Shell from the Sea Ogre in his lair in the great Lune Deep.
The shell is a dramatic visual prop to this story made more significant by it being twice daily swamped by the tide, allowing at low tide access to listen inside the structure to the sounds of the sea and read some text from the storybook.
It is an adventurous piece of sculpture and a very popular destination for families and photographers throughout the year.
The 9m long stainless steel structure weighs 17 tons, Our concept models were beautifully developed and crafted by Chris Brammall and his team, a remarkable achievement.
FYLDE COAST SHIPWRECK MEMORIAL
This is a memorial to all known ships lost along the Fylde coast, on the North West England - from Fleetwood to Lytham St Annes. It is positioned on the promenade at Cleveleys, adjacent to the site of the most recently lost ship the Riverdance.
The artwork takes the form of a 4.6m tall ‘wall of words’, with the names of the ships pierced through sheets of 15mm thick weathering steel. A larger text, in relief, runs the full height of the memorial, with words taken from the famous Seaman's Hymn. A circular aperture frames a significant view along the Fylde Coast, presenting a photographic opportunity for visitors.
The decorative metalwork is supported by two large greenheart timber structures, which house two plaques that list the names of the ships, dates and a little more information regarding the tragic event which lead to the loss of a ship.
COLOURED SEA SWALLOWS
The multi-coloured Sea Swallow birds are planned to sit along the seawall at Cleveleys promenade, they are temporarily removed awaiting re-siting at Rossall follow the unfortunate theft of some of them.
The birds are cast in resin.
Have you walked the Mythic Coast Trail?
“Wyre’s Mythic Coast Artwork trail brings a magical element to the Cleveleys seafront.
Striking structures have brought to life The Sea Swallow - a specially commissioned children’s story book that combines local folklore, myth and legend about Wyre’s coastline.”