Public Art: Glass-look, Resin Sea Swallows

The Mythic Coast artwork trail in Cleveleys originally included 12 glass-look, resin Sea Swallows. These beautiful birds alighted briefly on the sea wall… but sadly they were the ones that got away…

As part of the original public artwork plan, these beautiful birds would alight on top of the sea wall at the end of Victoria Road West. Permanently fastened, three different shapes in various places, enjoying the view.

The Swallows Quickly Come and Go…

On 13 January 2014 these lovely little birds were carefully installed in their new sea front location.

Each of them had a substantial metal rod extending from the base of the bird. The rods slotted into corresponding metal sockets, previously set into the concrete sea wall at the Plaza, each secured with bonding compound for a permanent fix.

Very uncharacteristically for Cleveleys, six of them went missing that very same day. Presumably some quick thinking person realised that the time to take them was before the bonding compound had set. Installed on a cold January day, the bonding compound would have taken a little longer than normal to set.

To save the others from a similar fate, the remaining birds were removed again, for safe keeping. Some years later, one of the birds surfaced in a second hand shop in Cleveleys (below). Five of the original Sea Swallows are still missing – yellow, purple, pink and two blue ones.

The Sea Swallows come to life…

The story of the Sea Swallow comes to life at Cleveleys beach and seafront, through a public art trail.

It winds along the promenade from the Shipwreck Memorial, past the Sea Swallow sculpture, the Ogres Paddle, and the Ogre on the beach. Finally arriving at Mary’s Shell which sits on the sand.

Take a look around the seafront trail in this short video –

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This is the original design for the birds.

• Find out all about the Mythic Coast Artwork Trail at Cleveleys

One of the missing glass-look, resin Sea Swallows flies back home…

A big thank you to Barbara and Nick Ward of The Bookmark book shop for finding and returning one of Cleveleys’ ‘Sea Swallows’ in September 2016.

A keen glass collector, Barbara was attracted to the red Sea Swallow, found in the Red Cross charity shop in Cleveleys. She paid just £6.50 for the sculpture which had originally cost £1000 to make. Husband Nick recognised that it might be one of the resin Sea Swallows from the Mythic Coast Artwork trail on Cleveleys’ promenade.

Barbara said “I’m really pleased the red Sea Swallow’s flown home. I think it is absolutely lovely and would have liked to keep it. I’m happy that I’ve been able to give it back to Cleveleys”.

Sea Swallow Artist says thank you

Mythic Coast Artwork trail artist Stephen Broadbent called in at The Bookmark to thank Barbara in person. He presented her with a bouquet and a copy of the Sea Swallow book.

Stephen says “I’m delighted that this wonderful bird’s returned home. I just hope the other five make their way back too. It would be great to have them all back”.

If anyone knows where any of the other five birds are please get in touch with us here at Visit Cleveleys.

All of Cleveleys seafront sculptures are from ‘The Sea Swallow’ book, specially written by Gareth Thompson. It tells a tale of Wyre’s coastline. You can buy your own copy of the book at the Care for Cleveleys Shop at Princess Road. Ironically the same location where Barbara rescued the red sea swallow in 2016!

• Find out all about the Mythic Coast Artwork Trail at Cleveleys