Paved with Love

I walked to South Woodford today for a follow-up audiology appointment. My route took me past this bridgescape installation on Woodford High Road where it crosses over the busy A406 North Circular Road.

Near this bridgescape used to be the site of the Queen Mary College (University of London) halls of residence, which took the form of rather ugly tower blocks. They were demolished in the early 2000s and the students were moved elsewhere. The tower blocks were then replaced by a new development of flats, with the developers agreeing to fund an artwork installation for Redbridge Council on the nearby site.

So in 2012 this artwork was installed. There are three stainless steel tree sculptures created by artist Lucien Simon (one of which is my main photo), and four heritage benches, with accompanying art paving, created by Tim Ward, which can be seen in extras. The benches are dedicated to Woodford’s famed association with Winston Churchill, William Morris and Sylvia Pankhurst. The bridgescape’s central wave path in the decorative pavement represents the River Roding.

A year ago the installation was renovated and repaired, and it does look beautiful. I just think it’s a shame it’s situated on top of such a busy road with four lanes of carriageway on either side, and beside another very busy High Road. It’s not somewhere I want to linger, unfortunately …

https://swvg.co.uk/2022/07/04/paved-with-love/