Our Basildon, exploring past, present and future, heritage trail.
The Basildon Heritage Trail is a permanent feature and is available all year. For further information please call 01277 630760, email Lisa or Vin or visit the website.
Basildon is blessed with some fine examples of 20th century figurative and abstract mosaic and sculpture, which are situated in prominent places throughout the town centre, including imaginative interpretations of human and animal forms, religious iconography, the historical and the scientific.
The most famous piece is the Mother and Child Fountain by Maurice Lambert RA which graces the town square, under the shadow of the Grade II listed building, Brooke House. Not far away and fixed to the wall of Freedom House is the oldest piece of sculpture in the new town - a wire and aluminium relief by A. J. Poole.
Around St Martin's Church is an interesting cluster of sculptures. Just behind the church is a small, stone statue of St Martin, over the church's south porch is the figure of Christ by T.B. Huxley-Jones, and on the other side of the square is a figure of the Woodsman Poacher carved from a 200 year old oak tree, by Dave Chapple.
If you go to Basildon's main roundabout, Roundacre, look out for work by the renowned sculptor Wendy Taylor. The Armillary Sundial is set in the roundabout itself, with connecting subways decorated with a range of exotic animals from a rhino, ostrich, elephant, baboon, through to a camel are also visually depicted in the cobble stones running towards the park.
Outside Fords main office in Basildon is Water Feature by William Mitchell and across the wall of Blenheim House, behind the Bus Station is a large tiled mural depicting the history of the town. There is another mural this time by Geoffrey Clark set high on a wall facing the store of Marks and Spencer.
One of the most prominent pieces of sculpture in private hands is Roland Emett's Pussiewillow III to be found in the atrium of the Eastgate Shopping Centre, where this fanciful clock chimes on the quarter, half and at the hour. In the Towngate Theatre on the first floor foyer can be found an interchangeable exhibition of watercolours, oils and works on paper by many leading artists of 20th century Britain.
