Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project

The Jackdaws of Caerphilly Photograph

Region ID

AH

Work ID

381

Manual Reference

CAER005

Type

Sculpture

Title

The Jackdaws of Caerphilly

Sculptor

Westerman, Julie Fay

Date of design

June 1994 - July 1995

Year of unveiling

1995

Unveiling details

1995

Road

Stockland Square

Precise Location

Entrance to Stockland Street

A to Z Ref

9 5E

OS Ref

Postcode

CF83 1JL

Work is

Extant

Listing Status

Not listed

Duty of Care

Caerphilly County Borough Council

Commissioned by

Mid Glamorgan County Council

Notes

Stone column with bronze sweep around that fragments into a flight of jackdaws.

On Cardiff Road the junctions with Stockland Street and Windsor Street are closed to traffic allowing the creation of smaller scale spaces for the shoppers to rest away from the traffic. These spaces are characterised by individual sculptures by Julie Westerman, the theme of which is 'guardianship' interpreted by a series of bronze geese. From 'The Jackdaws of Caerphilly': Jackdaws and geese have historical and contemporary resonance. At the turn of the century the people of Caerphilly were nicknamed Jackdaws by the inhabitants of nearby towns. The origins probably lay with the ruined castle as home to flocks of the birds.' Information from Cywaith Cymru : Artworks Wales: 'Artists have been working alongside landscape architects (Camlin Lonsdale) and planners to transform the centre of Caerphilly, helping to revive the spirit of the town. The bronze sculptures in Stockland and Windsor Streets were designed by the artist working closely with the landscape consultant and with local people. The new spaces created in these two streets are areas in which one can rest or meet with friends.'

Taken from 'The Jackdaws of Caerphilly': 'The new square provided by blocking Stockland Street and Windsor Street have provided the spaces in which to pause, just off the busy shopping thoroughfare. These squares have been given form and identity through the inclusion of their sculptural features. Thus animated, they have been transformed from places in which to pause into places in which to linger. The sites provided an opportunity to establish a series of guardian sculptures. Towns and cities the world over have employed guardians to represent and defend their people. They mark the various camps and fly the flags for the different factions. Proud figures adorn town gates, stand above doorway and mark thresholds. Here in Caerphilly the guardians express a new confidence for the town. They carry the visual narrative and provide a focus for each indvidual space.'

circa

raw year

1995

Condition

Good

At risk

No known risk

Inscriptions

Signatures

Elements

Element Details

Part of work

Material

Dimensions

Carvings, sculpture

Bronze

400cm high

Assessment of Condition

Surface Character

Detail

Comment

No damage

Structural Condition

Structural Condition

Comment

Other

Good condition

Vandalism

Vandalism

Comment

None