Martlets Tree
| Browse information by: Location Makers General Information Classification Object Parts Object Condition History References Photographs |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright for Photograph: Creative Commons |
Location
| Street: | Queens Square |
| Town: | Crawley |
| Parish: | Crawley |
| Council: | Crawley Borough Council |
| County: | West Sussex |
| Postcode: | RH10 |
| Location on Google Map | |
| Object setting: | Outside building |
| Access is: | Public |
| Location note: | In The Martlets shopping area |
| In the AZ book: | West Sussex |
| Page: | 10 |
| Grid reference: | F6 |
| The A-Z books used are A-Z East Sussex and A-Z West Sussex (Editions 1A 2005). Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd. Sevenoaks. | |
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Makers
| Name : | Richard Quinnell |
| Role: | Metal worker |
| Name : | Peter Parkinson |
| Role: | Designer |
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General Information
| Commissioned by: | Scottish Widows Insurance and South East Arts |
| Installation date: | 1999 |
| Unveiling date: | 10/1999 |
| Work is: | Extant |
| Owner custodian: | Crawley Borough Council |
| Object listing: | Not listed |
| Description: | A tall tree-like sculpture with shiny cut-out depictions of the mythological martlet loosely held onto the branches so that they move and shimmer with the breeze. At the top of the 'tree' are four penants with a cut-out pictorial design depicting symbols of Crawley's history. |
| Iconographical description: | The Martlet is a mythical, heraldic bird that features on the crest of both Crawley Borough Council and West Sussex CountyCouncil. 'The images on the tree symbolise activities of historical importance to the prosperity of the town – iron smelting and forging from roman times agriculture – with references to pigs and geese in the domesday book and transport – from stage coaches to gatwick airport'. (Plaque) |
| Inscription: | THE MARTLETS TREE / 1999 / DESIGNED BY PETER PARKINSON / MADE BY RICHARD QUINNELL / GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY SCOTTISH WIDOWS / WITH GRANT AID FROM SOUTH-EAST ARTS / THE WORK IS A CELEBRATION OF THE HERALDIC ORIGIN OF THE STREET NAME ‘THE MARTLETS’ / THE MARTLET, A MYTHICAL HERALDIC BIRD, FEATURES ON THE 13TH CENTURY COAT OF ARMS / OF THE NORMAN De ARUNDEL FAMILY, GREAT SUSSEX LANDOWNERS, AND HENCE ON / THE COATS OF ARMS OF BOTH CRAWLEY AND WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL / THE IMAGES ON THE TREE SYMBOLISE ACTIVITIES OF HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE / TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE TOWN – IRON SMELTING AND FORGING FROM ROMAN TIMES / AGRICULTURE – WITH REFERENCES TO PIGS AND GEESE IN THE DOMESDAY BOOK / AND TRANSPORT – FROM STAGE COACHES TO GATWICK AIRPORT |
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Classification
| Categories: | Heraldic, Functional, Free Standing, Sculptural, Animal |
| Object type1: | Sculpture |
| Object type2: | Shaft |
| Subject type1: | Symbolic |
| Subject type2: | Mythological |
| Subject type3: | Figurative |
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Object Parts
| Part 1: | Tree sculpture |
| Material: | Metal |
| Width (cm): | 450 |
| Depth (cm): | 450 |
| Part 2: | Octagonal base with integral seating |
| Material: | Stone |
| Width (cm): | 250 |
| Depth (cm): | 250 |
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Object Condition
| Overall condition: | Good |
| Risk assessment: | No known risk |
| Date of on-site inspection: | 22/01/2008 |
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History
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References
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Photographs
Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
 Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |  Author: Anthony McIntosh Copyright: Creative Commons |
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