St Kyneburgh's wall, by Tom Price, 2011

I was literally sweating over an old iMac this morning when I was trying to add some extra RAM to a friend's elderly G5 computer. After I finally managed to get inside and fit it, the computer failed to start up emitting alarm tones and a whirling fan, so I switched it off quickly. So now we have to wait for a replacement of the faulty RAM, and the sage continues.

I decided to head over to buy some tofu in Gloucester, which gave me the excuse to visit a camera shop, something I haven't done for many years. I was able to see various goodies that I've thought of getting, but being used to buying online their prices were very high. I appreciate their need to run a fair business and they did offer unconditional advice today. But like many every penny counts and the savings on certain gear will mean I can buy something else as well.

I got my camera out after leaving the shop and strolled along the old Roman roads, Eastgate, Southgate and Westgate that meet at the centre of Gloucester. I had my new lens and wanted to see how it performed. After taking a few shots the sun began to shine through breaks in the grey clouds and I started to stroll down to the redeveloped docklands, which I wanted to walk through on the my way back to my parked car about a mile from the centre.

As I left the pedestrianised area of Southgate, I suddenly saw a small burnt out building and poked my nose in a back yard. when I turned back I suddenly saw this structure at the edge of the road and the old square. I couldn't resist a few pictures and only as I walked away to wards the docks did I see a metal notice board with the following description of it and another huge tower sculpture close by.

The story of St Kyneburgh
St Kyneburgh's Chapel, close to the Roman and medieval south gate, was an important church in Saxon Gloucester and already old at the Norman Conquest. No one is sure who Kyneburgh was. But a 15th century document, however, records that Kyneburgh was a princess from Moreton-near-Thornbury, who wished to dedicate her life to God. She avoided her family's marriage plans by running away, and took service with a baker in Gloucester. Impressed by her virtue, headopted jher as his daughter. But hios wife became jealous, and while the baker was away she murdered Kyneburgh and threw her body in a well. seeking the girl on her return, the baker called her and by the well he heard her voice responding.

Her remains were buried in a nearby Chapel, and the well became a place of pi;grimage, famous for its healing powers. She was later made a Saint with her feast day falling on 25th June.

The name Kyneburgh comes from the Anglo-Saxon cyne meaning a royal, and burh, stronghold, which evolved to become today's Kimbrose Square.


Kyneburgh Tower and Wall
When approached from a distance the tower, though made of steel appears to move up and down. Its open slatted structure is designed to create a moiré or watered silk effect. The outer shape is based on an undulating body of water, as if poured from above, and represents the fall of Kyneburgh's body down the well.

The tower's inner surface gently spirals upwards, like arising body, and recalls the tunnel of light effect those with near death experiences often describe. Its apex is a perfect circle of light, which suggests the wellhead, Kyneburgh's ascent to heaven and a saintly halo. The 30m (98ft) wall lies along the line of the city's Roman wall, which continues the theme of fluidity, in this case through time, and the changing nature of of the site over the centuries.


Apparently Gloucester County Council and Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company asked British sculptor Tom Price to create the bespoke tower and the wall which was completed in June 2011.

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