I was commissioned in April 2006  to create an artwork for the entrance to the new Bowes  Business Park development on Lambton estate , County Durham . 

First came a  time of taking in, of  words, images,  impressions , measurements , feelings  , places  and people  -   talking to  people -  some of the older, retired estate  staff, who have worked for the Lambton family for 50 or 60 years , people still working on the estate now, neighbours , some local people.

Ages travelling all over the estate, by car and on  foot ,  meeting trees and animals , tracks and bridges ,many and varied buildings, and the amazing river Wear.     I have been given excellent guided tours of Biddick Hall and gardens ,   and of the Castle. 

I have  taken  so  many pictures.

I read several versions of the tale of the Lambton Worm, and  followed this with  extensive research on the Lambton family  and their fascinating history going back a thousand years.  This led to further discoveries about local mythology , going back even further , and exploration of how important the development and decline of coal mining has been locally .

I have also managed to visit Beamish museum, and go down a coal mine ,  visit  local stone quarries and explore local sources for  big pieces good quality  oak for carving.

Lots of time at the proposed site – just walking about , feeling the earth , breathing the air, looking , measuring, watching bouncy new born lambs (which seems appropriate )

Wandering and  wondering  -    what?   where?   and    how ?

Taking into account :

The People/the Lambton family contribution locally / the Railway/ passage of time/ ancientness/ looking forward/ optimism /local environment and Mythology

·                     A Giant sundial  -  from the Lambton family motto  “The Day Will Come” – which  speaks  of   - “ success in the face of adversity” -  and better times ahead .

·                     An Elliptical Spiral Mound of earth  , derived from a Fibonacci  Spiral and Golden Section ,  a harmonising of nature , mathematics and science 

·                     The Gnomon or Sundial Pointer is a  steel sculpture created from used railway lines

·                     Sandstone Monoliths for the  Hour markers , big stones from local quarries -  standing together ,  like people as History shadows by.

·                     Significant orientation marks – probably noon on Summer and Winter solstice

·                     A new bank of trees and shrubs to be planted as a ‘Backdrop’ to the Sundial, varieties of colours  for seasons.

·                     Possibly  some carving. Words ? Hours ? Pictograms ?

·                     Possibly incorporate coloured glasswork

digging in the earth for coal ,

black energy, power.

Machines , steam ,  tracks of steel  

and  stones .

timeless, a little weathering, a few thousand years,

many skies passing,

as long as the sun  keeps on rising

then  day will come