‘From the Forest to the Sea’ art trail complete at Lydney Harbour
A new art trail has recently been completed at Lydney Harbour, a nationally important Scheduled Ancient Monument on the River Severn at Lydney, Gloucestershire.
Inspired by the Forest of Dean’s rich industrial heritage ‘From the Forest to the Sea’ makes connections between the past and present uses of the harbour.
Image credit Charles Emerson
Cabinet Member for Economy, Cllr Bernie O’Neill, said, “One of the main goals of our regeneration project at Lydney Harbour has been to develop the area as a recreation and tourism destination for local residents and visitors to the area.
“The art trail is a key part of achieving this. It will give people a new way of experiencing the harbour and of understanding its pivotal role in the Forest of Dean’s industrial past for many years to come.”
“ From the first moments we spent at the harbour we knew this project would be about the fascinating layers of history as well as the incredible landscape, and the inseparable connection between the two.
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‘Lookout ‘
Image credit Charles Emerson
The trail starts at the roundabout on the A48 leading to Station Road and continues along the former railway line alongside the canal, ending where the harbour meets the sea.
The first construction, ‘Tower’, made of green oak, alludes to the timber cross-braced supports used in a range of local heavy industries, such as coal mining and railways, during the industrial revolution.
Tower
Image credit Charles Emerson
When you arrive at the harbour you will notice ‘Lookout’ and ‘Coal Arch’ silhouetted against the skyline. The two new sculptures stand in the footprints of previous structures seen in old photos taken during the harbour’s golden age.
One was an octagonal white hut, and the other a black hut, which stood beside coal tip number 9. ‘Lookout’ has been made of beautiful blue green Forest of Dean pennant stone. In contrast, ‘Coal Arch’ has been made of timber which has been charred using a technique called Shou Sugi Ban, to resemble coal, historically one of the harbour’s main exports.
Archive image from the Ian Pope collection
Image credit Charles Emerson
Image credit Charles Emerson
“We feel incredibly privileged to have been a part of this project, the harbour has become a place very close to our hearts as a place with such a rich connection to the past and an incredible place to experience the unique landscape of the Severn Estuary.””
Image credit Charles Emerson
Along the walking trail between Lydney Railway Station and the harbour, you will also find three playful, stacked sculptures that have been inspired by the railway that once ran along this path. Sleepers have been inscribed with the poetic names of Forest of Dean collieries, and the ships that used to dock at the harbour.
To find out more about Destination Lydney Harbour, including a series of videos on the artworks and more details on the highway works, visit https://www.fdean.gov.uk/visitlydneyharbour
The art trail reconnects the town to the harbour and the landscape of the Severn Estuary, echoing the links once heralded between trade and industry, running along the railway lines.