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Swanley Square Shopping Centre - the Artwork of William Mitchell
William Mitchell Sculptures: Swanley Square Shopping Centre Swanley Kent BR8 7TQ
Swanley Square Shopping Centre ,built by Taylor Woodrow Properties, opened in 1971 and features the textured friezes on the staircases designed by the renowned and pioneering sculptor William Mitchell ( 30 April 1925 - 30 January 2020). Mitchell is best known for his large scale concrete murals and public works of art including the Egyptian Rooms in Harrods London, installations at Manchester University, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Clifton Cathedral in Bristol and many other public buildings across England. Many of these have now been awarded listed status.
The cast and carved textured concrete panels with their distinctive abstract patterns are of historic and artistic merit embodying the key features of the 20th Century Modernist, Industrialist and Brutalist movements and enhance the cultural environment of the shopping centre.
Situated at the centre of the town in the busy Swanley Square Shopping Centre they have provided a backdrop to the daily life of residents since the early 1970’s. Older residents lament the loss of the ‘totem pole clock’ which was part of the original installation and have fond memories of the part it played in their younger days.
The friezes are representative of the classic 1960’s public installations of the Brutalist era on a small scale set in a small town environment and their worth should be recognised alongside those projects in more notable large public buildings and spaces.
We are supporting Swanley Town Council's efforts to ensure these sculptures are recognised and preserved for generations to come.
You can see William Mitchell making similar sculptures via this link
https://youtu.be/GQGLdJPc948
Swanley Square Shopping Centre - the Artwork of William Mitchell
William Mitchell Sculptures: Swanley Square Shopping Centre Swanley Kent BR8 7TQ
Swanley Square Shopping Centre ,built by Taylor Woodrow Properties, opened in 1971 and features the textured friezes on the staircases designed by the renowned and pioneering sculptor William Mitchell ( 30 April 1925 - 30 January 2020). Mitchell is best known for his large scale concrete murals and public works of art including the Egyptian Rooms in Harrods London, installations at Manchester University, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Clifton Cathedral in Bristol and many other public buildings across England. Many of these have now been awarded listed status.
The cast and carved textured concrete panels with their distinctive abstract patterns are of historic and artistic merit embodying the key features of the 20th Century Modernist, Industrialist and Brutalist movements and enhance the cultural environment of the shopping centre.
Situated at the centre of the town in the busy Swanley Square Shopping Centre they have provided a backdrop to the daily life of residents since the early 1970’s. Older residents lament the loss of the ‘totem pole clock’ which was part of the original installation and have fond memories of the part it played in their younger days.
The friezes are representative of the classic 1960’s public installations of the Brutalist era on a small scale set in a small town environment and their worth should be recognised alongside those projects in more notable large public buildings and spaces.
We are supporting Swanley Town Council's efforts to ensure these sculptures are recognised and preserved for generations to come.
You can see William Mitchell making similar sculptures via this link
https://youtu.be/GQGLdJPc948
Staircase photographs courtesy and copyright of Richard Maile . These should not be copied or shared without his permission.
This page is copyright of Swanley History Group and should not be shared or copied without our prior permission.
This page is copyright of Swanley History Group and should not be shared or copied without our prior permission.