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List of public art in Somerset

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Districts of Somerset
  County council area
  Unitary
Map of districts 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 Somerset West and Taunton
3 Sedgemoor
4 Mendip
5 Bath and North East Somerset
6 North Somerset
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

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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 four districts, and two unitary authorities. The districts of Somerset are Somerset West and Taunton, South Somerset, 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

[edit]

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] It 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 Hill

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 Queen Square, Bath 1738 John Wood, the Elder Obelisk Stone 15m tall Grade II* listed building Shortened after a gale in 1815.[9][10]

More images 		Queen Victoria Jubilee Obelisk Royal Victoria Park, Bath

51°23′10″N 2°22′23″W / 51.3862°N 2.3731°W / 51.3862; -2.3731 		1837 G.P. Manners (architect) Obelisk Stone Grade II* Q1752215

More images 		Edward VII Parade Gardens, Bath c.1911 Newbury Abbot Trent[11] Statue on pedestal Bronze & Portland stone Grade II Q26673296
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

More images 		Rebecca Fountain Beside Bath Abbey 1859, erected 1861 Rushton Walker of Bristol Sculpture and fountain Stone and marble Grade II Q26674838 [13]

More images 		Queen Victoria Exterior of Victoria Art Gallery, Bath c.1897 Andrea Carlo Lucchesi Sculpture and surround Stone [14]
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

[edit]

Mendip is a local government district which covers a largely rural area of 285 square miles (738 km2)[15] ranging from the Mendip Hills through on to the Somerset Levels. It has a population of approximately 11,000.[15] 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

More images 		War memorial St. Cuthberts Parish Church, Wells c.1920 Lantern cross with plaques Stone & bronze 4m tall Grade II listed building Q26663082 [16][17]
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 Sculpture Wood [18]
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 Josefina de Vasconcellos Sculpture group Bronze [19]

More images 		Four Symbols of the Evangelists Approach to the North Porch of Wells Cathedral 1992-93 Mary Spencer Watson Four sculptures Purbeck stone [20]

More images 		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 Pen Hill

51°14′19″N 2°37′02″W / 51.2385°N 2.6173°W / 51.2385; -2.6173 		1946 Gaetano Celestra Neoclassical folly Concrete and plaster over an iron armature 12 feet (4 m) high Grade II listed building [21][22]
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 Sculpture group

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

[edit]

North Somerset is a unitary authority which is administered independently of the non-metropolitan county of Somerset.[23] 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.[24]

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

More images 		War memorial Grove Park, Weston-super-Mare 1922 Alfred Drury Statue on pedestal Bronze and stone Grade II Q26677665 [25][26]

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.[27][28] North Somerset Council Lit by LEDs at night[29]

More images 		The Glassblower Nailsea

51°26′03″N 2°45′14″W / 51.4342°N 2.7540°W / 51.4342; -2.7540 		2008[30] 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[31]


Sedgemoor

[edit]

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.[32]

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

More images 		Admiral 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 on pedestal Bronze, limestone and granite Grade II*[33] Bridgwater Town Council Q30625603

More images 		Willow Man

51°09′02″N 2°58′52″W / 51.15046°N 2.9812°W / 51.15046; -2.9812 		2000[34] Serena de la Hey Sculpture Black maul willow withies over steel frame.[35] 40 feet (12 m) high. Q2899308 Burnt down in 2001 and rebuilt.[36]

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 Sculpture 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 Statue on pedestal Bronze

More images 		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 Obelisk Stone Grade II listed building Q26468579 Site of Athelney Abbey.[37][38]
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 Sculpture Wood


South Somerset

[edit]

The South Somerset district occupies an area of 370 square miles (958 km2),[39] stretching from its borders with Devon and Dorset to the edge of the Somerset Levels. The district has a population of about 158,000,[40] 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[41] 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


Somerset West and Taunton

[edit]

Somerset West and Taunton has borough status. The district covers a population of approximately 150,000[42] in an area of 459.5 square miles (1,190 km2).[43] The major settlements are the town of Taunton, where around 60,000 of the population live,[44] Minehead which has population 10,000.

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 Q26565782 Made by the Saracen Foundry of Glasgow.[45]



More images 		Queen Anne Wellington Square, Minehead 1791 Francis Bird Statue & surround Carrara marble Grade II* listed building Q17555996 Moved to current site in 1893.[46][47]

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 Statue on pedestal 7 feet (2.1 m) high Watchet Market House Museum Society [48]

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 Sculpture Steel and welded galvanised iron 3 metres (9.8 ft) high and 3 metres (9.8 ft) wide Start of the South West Coast Path.[49]
John Short Watchet

51°10′56″N 3°19′45″W / 51.182084°N 3.329038°W / 51.182084; -3.329038 		2008 Alan Herriot Statue Bronze Watchet Market House Museum Society [50][51]
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 Monolith 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 		Sculpture Wicker


References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Public art in Somerset.
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