Statues - Hither & Thither

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Redcar
(Redcar and Cleveland)
North Yorkshire
Yorkshire & Humberside

Esplanade and Newcomen Terrace

Picture Postcards

Chris Topp
1994-95

Description

Twenty three brightly-painted relief panels (86 x 132 cm each) in eight series. Each panel takes the form of a picture postcard on the theme of the seaside at Redcar.
A competition was held in 1995 among blacksmiths to produce a lively railing design to brighten up the north end of the promenade. Chris Topp won the competition for a series of seaside postcards made from wrought iron using all the traditional techniques. They all include letters which, when taken in order, form a riddle with a hidden clue.

Originally, the steel postcards were incorporated into the promenade railings. In 2012 they were removed for the development of the new sea wall. They were restored by the original producter and returned in 2013 at different locations, at the wall at the top of the stairs to the beach.

They are designed by Stephen Abbey, Humphrey Holland, Richard Albanese and Pete Douglas and made by by the blacksmith Chris Topp.

West to East:

1 Industry in front of this set is the sculpture group Penguins
Steelworks Letter: R	Factory Letter: I	Shipbuilding Letters: SE
2 Sea shore life
Pinguin and seagulls playing with a ball Letters: SH	Fish family reading and watching television Letters: 'IN'	Mussel, lobster and shrip eating chips Letters: ET
3 Tourism
Fairground ride Letter: A	Postcard to Chris Topp, Thirsk: "Weather is here wish you were nice Peat". Letters: NB	Fish and chip shop Letters: UR
4 Ships and boats
Fishing boat in the high seas Letters: ST	Lifeboat 'Zetland' Letters: "RAY"	Old style lifeboat Letters: SP
5 Nursery rhyme(?) and pier
Landscape with mill, mouse and ship Letters: OT	H.M.S. Redcar (does not belong to the postcards)	Ball playing and the pier Letters: B E
6 Village
Airplane Letters: 'AM'	High Street with clock tower Letter: D	Horse racing Letter: "I"
7 Disco and Nursery rhymes
Disco scene Letters: AL	Nursery rhyme: Jack and Jill went up the hill, / To fetch a pail of water; / Jack fell down, and broke his crown, / And Jill came tumbling after. Letter: D	Nursery rhyme: Mary, Mary, quite contrary, / How does your garden grow? / Silver bells and cockle-shells, / And pretty maids all of a row. Letter: O
8 Children
Ice cream seller Letter: W	Punch and Judy Show Letter: N	Playing on the beach and donkey ride Letters: SET

Inscription(s)

These are the 39 letters of the riddle from west to east:

R I SE - SH 'IN' ET - A NB UR - ST 'RAY' SP - OT B E - AM D 'I' - AL D O - W N SET

We couldn't solved it...

Signature

Postcard address: Chris Topp, Thirsk

Artist

Chris Topp & Co., Ltd., blacksmiths (Website).

Sources & Information

University College for the Creative Arts, VADS (Visual Arts Data Service).
Hidden Teesside, Picture Postcards, Redcar.

Location (N 54°37'11" - W 1°4'4") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: gbyh194; Photograph: 31 July 2019
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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