List of public art in Somerset

Districts of Somerset
Areas shown in yellow are the unitary authorities and those in pink are districts administered by Somerset County Council
Map of Somerset. North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset are shown in yellow, while the other districts are in pink.
1 South Somerset
2 Taunton Deane (Borough)
3 West Somerset
4 Sedgemoor
5 Mendip
6 Bath and North East Somerset (Unitary)
7 North Somerset (Unitary)

This is a list of public art in the Somerset county of England. This list applies only to works of public art on permanent display in an outdoor public space. For example, this does not include artworks in museums.

The ceremonial county of Somerset consists of a non-metropolitan county, administered by Somerset County Council, which is divided into five districts, and two unitary authorities. The districts of Somerset are West Somerset, South Somerset, Taunton Deane, Mendip and Sedgemoor. The two administratively independent unitary authorities, which were established on 1 April 1996 following the breakup of the county of Avon, are North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset. These unitary authorities include areas that were once part of Somerset before the creation of Avon in 1974.[1]

Public art is art in any media that has been planned and executed with the intention of being staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all. Public art is significant within the art world, amongst curators, commissioning bodies and practitioners of public art, to whom it signifies a working practice of site specificity, community involvement and collaboration. Public art may include any art which is exhibited in a public space including publicly accessible buildings, but often it is not that simple. Rather, the relationship between the content and audience, what the art is saying and to whom, is just as important if not more important than its physical location.[2]


Bath and North East Somerset

Bath and North East Somerset (commonly referred to as BANES or B&NES) is a unitary authority created on 1 April 1996, following the abolition of the County of Avon.[3] Bath and North East Somerset occupies an area of 220 square miles (570 km2), two-thirds of which is green belt.[4] BANES stretches from the outskirts of Bristol, south into the Mendip Hills and east to the southern Cotswold Hills and Wiltshire border.[4] The city of Bath is the principal settlement in the district, but BANES also covers Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Radstock and the Chew Valley. BANES has a population of 170,000, about half of whom live in Bath, making it 12 times more densely populated than the rest of the district.[4]

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates		 Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Wikidata Notes

More images		 Sir Bevil Grenville's Monument Lansdown, Bath

51°25′53″N 2°23′58″W / 51.431389°N 2.399444°W / 51.431389; -2.399444		 1720 Ashlar stone masonry, 25 feet (8 m) high. Grade II* listed building, scheduled monument[5][6][7][8] Q7526126

More images		 Frederick, Prince of Wales[9] Queen Square (Bath) 1738 Grade II listed building Shortened after a gale in 1815.[10]

More images		 Jubliee Obelisk Royal Victoria Park, Bath

51°23′10″N 2°22′23″W / 51.3862°N 2.3731°W / 51.3862; -2.3731		 1837

More images		 Edward VII Parade Gardens, Bath 1901-1910 Newbury Abbot Trent[11] Bronze
Jupiter Royal Victoria Park, Bath

51°23′10″N 2°22′23″W / 51.3862°N 2.3731°W / 51.3862; -2.3731		 1839 John Osborne Bath Stone Head 183 centimetres (72 in) high. Base and pedestal 600 centimetres (240 in) high.[12]
Memorial to the 1968 flood By the River Chew in Woollard

51°22′42″N 2°31′47″W / 51.3784°N 2.5298°W / 51.3784; -2.5298		 Stone, from destroyed bridge and plaque
Sham Castle Bathampton

51°22′57″N 2°20′15″W / 51.3825°N 2.3375°W / 51.3825; -2.3375		 1755 Sanderson Miller Stone Grade II* listed building Q7487351
Medici lions Royal Victoria Park, Bath

51°23′03″N 2°21′53″W / 51.3843°N 2.3646°W / 51.3843; -2.3646
Fossil Tree milepost on National Cycle Route 24 Near Radstock

51°17′50″N 2°25′29″W / 51.2972°N 2.4247°W / 51.2972; -2.4247		 John Mills
Somerset coalfield Radstock

51°17′37″N 2°26′55″W / 51.2936°N 2.4485°W / 51.2936; -2.4485

Mendip

Mendip is a local government district which covers a largely rural area of 285 square miles (738 km2)[13] ranging from the Mendip Hills through on to the Somerset Levels. It has a population of approximately 11,000.[13] The administrative centre of the district is Shepton Mallet.

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates		 Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Wikidata Notes
Adam and Eve Bishop's Palace, Wells

51°12′33″N 2°38′32″W / 51.209111°N 2.642105°W / 51.209111; -2.642105		 E. J. Clack[14] Wood
The Weight of Our Sins Bishop's Palace, Wells

51°12′33″N 2°38′32″W / 51.209111°N 2.642105°W / 51.209111; -2.642105		 2010[15] Josefina de Vasconcellos
Admiral Hood Monument Compton Dundon

51°06′05″N 2°43′17″W / 51.101356°N 2.721306°W / 51.101356; -2.721306		 1831 Henry Goodridge Tuscan column Ashlar 110 feet (33.5 m) high Grade II* listed building Q4683688
Romulus and Remus

51°14′20″N 2°37′00″W / 51.2390°N 2.6166°W / 51.2390; -2.6166		 1945 Bonded cast concrete Created by Gaetano Celestra an Italian prisoner of war at a nearby camp.[16][17]
Celebration Site of West Mendip Hospital, Horrington

51°09′32″N 2°42′02″W / 51.1589°N 2.7006°W / 51.1589; -2.7006		 2005 James Blunt

More images		 Mells War Memorial Mells

51°14′26″N 2°23′22″W / 51.240429°N 2.389446°W / 51.240429; -2.389446		 1921 Sir Edwin Lutyens War memorial Purbeck marble Grade II* listed building Q17552180

North Somerset

North Somerset is a unitary authority which is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county of Somerset.[18] Its administrative headquarters are located in the town hall of Weston-super-Mare, and has a resident population of 193,000 living in 85,000 households.[19]

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates		 Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Wikidata Notes

More images		 Silica Big Lamp Junction, Weston-super-Mare

51°20′50″N 2°58′34″W / 51.3471°N 2.9761°W / 51.3471; -2.9761		 2006 Wolfgang Buttress 4 metres (13 ft) wide at the base. 30 metres (98 ft) high.[20][21] North Somerset Council Lit by LEDs at night[22]

More images		 The Glassblower Nailsea

51°26′03″N 2°45′14″W / 51.4342°N 2.7540°W / 51.4342; -2.7540		 2008[23] Vanessa Marston Bronze Nailsea Town Council
Seafarer's Memorial Portishead

51°29′41″N 2°46′24″W / 51.4947°N 2.7733°W / 51.4947; -2.7733		 2005 Stone
Carved head Leigh Woods

51°26′47″N 2°39′18″W / 51.4464°N 2.6549°W / 51.4464; -2.6549		 Stone
Full Fathom Five Portishead

51°29′29″N 2°45′15″W / 51.4915°N 2.7543°W / 51.4915; -2.7543		 Michael Dan Archer Stone 108 granite columns[24]

Sedgemoor

Sedgemoor district is a low-lying area of land close to sea level between the Quantock and Mendip hills, historically largely marsh (or moor). It contains the bulk of the area also known as the Somerset Levels, including Europe's oldest known engineered roadway, the Sweet Track.[25]

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates		 Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Wikidata Notes
Statue of Robert Blake Bridgwater

51°07′42″N 3°00′14″W / 51.1282°N 3.0039°W / 51.1282; -3.0039		 1898 F. W. Pomeroy Statue Bronze, limestone and granite Grade II*[26] Bridgwater Town Council

More images		 Willow Man'

51°09′02″N 2°58′52″W / 51.15046°N 2.9812°W / 51.15046; -2.9812		 2000[27] Serena de la Hey Black maul willow withies over steel frame.[28] 40 feet (12 m) high. Q2899308 Burnt down in 2001 and rebuilt.[29]

More images		 Somerset Space Walk Bridgwater and Taunton Canal

51°03′45″N 2°59′20″W / 51.0626°N 2.9888°W / 51.0626; -2.9888		 1997 Pip Youngman 22-kilometre (14-mile) long Q7559907
West Country Carnival Bridgwater

51°07′42″N 3°00′14″W / 51.1284°N 3.0039°W / 51.1284; -3.0039		 2005
Alfred the Great Athelney

51°03′33″N 2°56′05″W / 51.0593°N 2.9346°W / 51.0593; -2.9346		 1801 Sir John Slade, 1st Baronet Stone[30] Ancient monument, Grade II listed building[31] Site of Athelney Abbey
West bank of the Parrett Estuary, a mile from the village of Combwich

51°09′42″N 3°02′54″W / 51.1617°N 3.0482°W / 51.1617; -3.0482		 1996 Wood

South Somerset

The South Somerset district occupies an area of 370 square miles (958 km2),[32] stretching from its borders with Devon and Dorset to the edge of the Somerset Levels. The district has a population of about 158,000,[33] and has Yeovil as its administrative centre.

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates		 Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Wikidata Notes
Industria Virtute Et Labore Yeovil

More images		 Burton Pynsent Monument Curry Rivel

51°01′18″N 2°53′21″W / 51.021667°N 2.889167°W / 51.021667; -2.889167		 1767 Capability Brown Portland Stone 140 feet (43 m) high Grade I listed building[34] Q5000900
Dillington House

More images		 King Alfred's Tower Brewham

51°06′54″N 2°21′54″W / 51.115°N 2.365°W / 51.115; -2.365		 1769-1772 49 metres (161 ft) high Grade I listed building Q7884143
Ball and Whirl Fore Street, Chard

50°52′22″N 2°57′49″W / 50.8728°N 2.9635°W / 50.8728; -2.9635		 1991 Neville Gabie Bronze
Jack The Treacle Eater Barwick

50°55′32″N 2°37′23″W / 50.9256°N 2.6231°W / 50.9256; -2.6231		 c. 1920s Stone South Somerset District Council
Fish Tower Barwick

50°55′49″N 2°37′38″W / 50.9304°N 2.6273°W / 50.9304; -2.6273		 c. 1920s South Somerset District Council
Cone Barwick

50°55′26″N 2°37′56″W / 50.9238°N 2.6321°W / 50.9238; -2.6321		 c. 1920s 75 feet (23 m) high South Somerset District Council


Taunton Deane

Taunton Deane has borough status. The district of Taunton Deane covers a population of approximately 100,000[35] in an area of 462 square kilometres (178 sq mi).[36] It is centered on the town of Taunton, where around 60,000 of the population live[35] and the council are based, and includes surrounding suburbs and villages.

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates		 Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Wikidata Notes

More images		 Wellington Monument Blackdown Hills

50°56′53″N 3°13′45″W / 50.9480°N 3.2293°W / 50.9480; -3.2293		 1854 Thomas Lee Triangular tower Calcareous Grit 80 feet (24 m) wide at the base and 53.34 metres (175.0 ft) high. Grade II* listed building Q7981443
Queen Victoria Memorial Fountain Vivary Park, Taunton

51°00′27″N 3°05′47″W / 51.0074°N 3.0964°W / 51.0074; -3.0964		 1907 Made by the Saracen Foundry of Glasgow.[37]

West Somerset

The West Somerset local government district covers a largely rural area, including parts of Exmoor, with a population, according to the 2001 census, of 35,075[38] in an area of 740 square kilometres (290 sq mi).[39] The largest centres of population are the coastal towns of Minehead and Watchet. The council's administrative headquarters are in the village of Williton.

Image Title / subject Location and
coordinates		 Date Artist / designer Type Material Dimensions Designation Owner / administrator Wikidata Notes
Queen Anne Minehead 1791[40] Francis Bird Carrara marble Grade II* listed building Moved to current site in 1893.[41]

More images		 The Ancient Mariner Watchet

51°10′56″N 3°19′45″W / 51.182084°N 3.329038°W / 51.182084; -3.329038		 2003 Alan Herriot[42] 7 feet (2.1 m) high Watchet Market House Museum Society

More images		 The Hand That Holds The Map Minehead

51°12′36″N 3°28′24″W / 51.2099°N 3.4733°W / 51.2099; -3.4733		 2001 Owen Cunningham Steel and welded galvanised iron 3 metres (9.8 ft) high and 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide[43] Start of the South West Coast Path
John Short[44] Watchet

51°10′56″N 3°19′45″W / 51.182084°N 3.329038°W / 51.182084; -3.329038		 2008 Alan Herriot Bronze Watchet Market House Museum Society[45]
Memorial to Sir Thomas Dyke Acland Selworthy

51°13′02″N 3°33′50″W / 51.2172°N 3.5639°W / 51.2172; -3.5639		 Wood 7 metres (23 ft) high

More images		 Caratacus Stone Exmoor

51°05′26″N 3°35′12″W / 51.0905°N 3.5867°W / 51.0905; -3.5867		 Possible 6th century Stone Ancient monument Q1035420
Fishing Wimbleball Lake

51°04′00″N 3°28′00″W / 51.0666°N 3.4666°W / 51.0666; -3.4666		 Wicker

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Public art in Somerset.
  1. ↑ "The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995". HMSO. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
  2. ↑ Knight, Cher Krause (2008). Public Art: theory, practice and populism. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4051-5559-5.
  3. ↑ "The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995". Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO). Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
  4. 1 2 3 "About the area". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Archived from the original on 4 November 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  5. ↑ "Monument to Sir Bevil Grenville". Images of England. English Heritage. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  6. ↑ Historic England. "Sir Bevil Grenville's Monument (1015110)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Historic England. "Monument to Sir Bevil Grenville at NGR ST 7219 7034 (1214434)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  8. ↑ Historic England. "Sir Bevil Grenvilles Monument (1072442)". PastScape. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  9. ↑ Historic England. "Queen Square obelisk (443388)". Images of England. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  10. ↑ Ison, Walter (2004). The Georgian Buildings of Bath. Spire Books. p. 129. OCLC 604318205.
  11. ↑ "Edward VII Memorial". Public Monuments & Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "Head of Jupiter". Public Monuments and Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  13. 1 2 "A Portrait of Mendip". Mendip District Council. p. 1. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  14. ↑ "Bishop's Palace, Wells: Adam and Eve". Victoria County History. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  15. ↑ "Don McCullin unveils war sculpture in Wells". BBC. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "A39, statue of Romulus and Remus on land at Beechbarrow House, St Cuthbert Out". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "Romulus and Remus". Public Monuments & Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995". Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO). Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2007.
  19. ↑ "Local Area Agreement for North Somerset 2007–2010". North Somerset Partnership. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  20. ↑ "Silica". Public Art Online. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  21. ↑ "Silica, 2006, Weston-Super-Mare". Wolfgang Buttress. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  22. ↑ "Silica artwork". North Somerset Council. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
  23. ↑ "Damage to glassblower statue reported to police". Western Daily Press. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  24. ↑ "Full Fathom Five by Michael Dan Archer". Public Art Portishead. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  25. ↑ "The day the Sweet Track was built". New Scientist, 16 June 1990. Archived from the original on 11 March 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
  26. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1205747)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  27. ↑ "40ft sculpture unveiled in Somerset". BBC News. 26 September 2000. Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
  28. ↑ "Willow Man – 2001". Serena de la Hey. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  29. ↑ "Willow man rises from ashes". BBC News. 19 October 2001. Archived from the original on 21 May 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
  30. ↑ Adkins, Lesley and Roy (1992). A Field Guide to Somerset Archaeology. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. ISBN 0-946159-94-7.
  31. ↑ Historic England. "King Alfred's Monument with railings (269541)". Images of England. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  32. ↑ "An introduction to South Somerset" (PDF). South Somerset District Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  33. ↑ "Population of South Somerset". South Somerset District Council. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
  34. ↑ Historic England. "Burton Pynsent Monument (431251)". Images of England. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  35. 1 2 "Demographics". Taunton Deane Borough Council. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  36. ↑ "Area: Taunton Deane (Local Authority): Key Figures for Physical Environment". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  37. ↑ "News from November 2005". West Somerset Railway. November 2005. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  38. ↑ "Community and Living". West Somerset Council. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  39. ↑ "West Somerset (Local Authority): Key Figures for Physical Environment". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  40. ↑ Byford, Enid (1987). Somerset Curiosities. Dovecote Press. p. 45. ISBN 0946159483.
  41. ↑ Historic England. "Statue of Queen Anne (391272)". Images of England. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  42. ↑ "Watchet and Samuel Taylor Coleridge". Market House Museum. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  43. ↑ "South Coast Path". Public Monuments& Sculpture Association. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  44. ↑ "Yankee Jack". Victoria County History. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  45. ↑ "Yankee Jack unveiled". Quantock Online. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
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