Back with the Benchmarks

In August, before we went away, I searched out and blipped a series of sculptures based on the River Eden. It was a Millennium project and I found it interesting to visit or revisit them to see what had happened to them in the 12 to 15 years since they were first placed.

So, here I am on number eight (only two to go!). It is called Cypher Piece and is right by the river in the village of Lazonby, just outside Penrith.  The combined stones are meant to mimic the flow of the river and are carved with all sorts of images and letters. I don't think anyone really knows what they are all about, although it is possible to make out on this picture the date of 1996, when the piece was placed.

This has been by far the most difficult piece to photograph, mainly because the sculpture is in a very shadowy, damp place and the undergrowth and trees that have grown up to one side of it do not allow the sun in, except, as here to dapple the stones in light. Hence the stones have become almost totally covered in moss. However, it has to be said that they do provide a perfect place (if a little damp at the moment!) to sit and admire the view of the river. And, if the whole point of the exercise was to provide sculptures that reflected the river, grew into the landscape and also functioned as seats, then this has to be regarded as a success. That it is difficult to photograph is of no consequence in the scheme of things!


The sculptor here was Frances Pelly, an Orkney based artist. She specialises in sculpture reflecting the landscape and in lettercutting in stone.