An amazing encounter

SpotsOfTime had alerted me to the fact that there was another installation in the Morecambe Bay area. I knew of the work of artist Chris Drury and the installation was newly erected at Sunderland Point, a place we had never been to. So off we went this morning. 

We stopped at the wonderful Carnforth Bookshop to get a map. (Gordon does not like to go to a place without the relevant OS map in his hands!) We had planned to get to Sunderland Point using the causeway, having checked the tide times for a safe crossing but, after a rather scary encounter with a large white van coming in the other direction, we decided to try the other end instead. We parked at Pott's Corner and walked along the inner edge of the marsh. What a huge expanse of salt marsh and mudflats, stretching as far as one could see. Lonely and bleak, but lots of birds to see and hear. 

Before Sunderland Point we came upon the installation and quite a few people (all had come across the causeway!). Horizon Line Chamber was designed by Chris Drury and built by Andrew Mason and team. It stands on the edge of the mudflats, is in the shape of an upturned boat and contains a lens which inverts the outside world onto a plastered wall. It all looks rather new, but will obviously age beautifully.

We were just admiring the actual building of it, when we realised that the builder himself was there - Andrew Mason. He had brought his young family to show them what he had been building. We had a fascinating chat with him. He told us about the stone that was used and just what they had to do to get the structure right. He mentioned Andy Goldsworthy and of course I then recognised his name. He has done most of the building of sheepfolds, pinfolds, arches etc. that I have searched out over the years. Between us we listed all the places and structures with which he had been involved and which I had photographed. How fabulous was that!  We even talked about the Drove Road project and he told us stories about that experience and generally about working with artists. He is a dry-stone waller by profession and is obviously highly skilled. A great guy (see extra 2) and what a chance and amazing encounter. 

Sunderland village was developed as a subsidiary port for Lancaster and ships set out from here in the 18th century to be involved with the slave trade. That is partly why the stone used for this chamber was taken from the now disused buildings and why it was built close to Sambo's Grave, which remembers that fate of a young African slave boy who was abandoned here in 1736 and subsequently died. It has many visitors (see extra 2).  

Gordon walked on to Sunderland Point and I wandered back along the marsh. We called in at Half Moon Bay, Heysham to see another installation - SHIP by Anna Gillespie (extra 3). And of course we stopped in Morecambe for fish and chips before heading home.