An Avid Lensman

By SarumStroller

The Milford Hill Underpass Mural Project

This is the most recent side of the road to be converted, from dirty great slabs of bland grey to this giant mural depicting Salisbury 'Life'. Painted by talented local artists and funded from within the community itself, this underpass has Salisbury's dual carriageway ring-road going overhead and it extends in length to double what you see here.

Completed just in time to record the Queen's visit earlier this year (the maroon Daimler) but the main interest is the Giant, all 12 ft tall, cloaked in red and a great contrast against the walking human figure. He is shown in the Market Square, in front of the Guildhall. Over to Salisbury Museum's own blurb, where 'he' is housed:

"The Salisbury Giant is a unique survival in this country. It is probable that he existed by the 1400s. Sometimes called St Christopher he was owned by the Tailor's Guild and purchased by the Museum in 1873 for 30 shillings (£1.50). He now stands 12ft high, his wooden frame having been rebuilt c. 1850. Over his shoulder he wears a leather baldric decorated with the Tailor's coat of arms."

I only shot this as my other blip plans went awry as I waited an hour for The Salisbury Fashion Week show to start and simply went on walkabout. No doubt I'll find a good excuse to have up a photo of the other side of the underpass, which rather than like the montage of this side, is intended to show the actual medieval buildings that were demolished to build the very 1970's wall their images now adorn.

I'm sure you will agree, it is a magnificent and great community project!

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