Public Art: Giant Ogres Paddle

The giant Ogres Paddle is one of the pieces of public art that brings Cleveleys seafront to life! Find it on the promenade across from Jubilee Leisure Park and JD Gym.

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What is the Giant Ogres Paddle?

The Ogres Paddle is a big one! It’s a whopping 9.2m long – in old money that’s heading for 30′.

Carved from tropical hardwood, it’s a piece of purple heart timber. It’s decorated with scenes from the Sea Swallow and words from the story.

Did you know that Wyre has a Mythic Coast?

Local folklore, sunken villages and petrified forests, weave through the Mythic Coast and the story of the Sea Swallow. The public art trail brings the story to life, winding along the promenade at Cleveleys and beyond into Fleetwood.

Take a look at the Paddle in this video clip, of it at home on Cleveleys promenade –

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Changing with the weather

It’s a living piece of artwork. It changes colour over time as the wind and rain, sunshine and sand weather the wood. It mellows with the weather, just as a real life paddle would. From time to time it gets a coat of wood preservative – protecting it for years to come.

Take a look around it, sit on the arm, and why not take a selfie while you’re there. If you do, share it in our Visit Fylde Coast Facebook Group. This is public art for you to see and feel!

Tales of the Mythic Coastline spread beyond Cleveleys to Fleetwood, woven into the new sea defences at nearby Rossall.

Installation of the Public Art

The Giant Ogres Paddle was installed in it’s permanent spot on Cleveleys promenade on Thursday 12 September 2013.

Funding for it came through grants secured from the national Sea Change project. The aim of which was to regenerate the coast through the Arts. Here it is, in the workshop before delivery –

See the Paddle on the Promenade

Here are some photos of the paddle, where it now lives on Cleveleys promenade. Why don’t you go for a walk and see it for yourself? If you take any photos don’t forget to share them in the Visit Fylde Coast Facebook Group.

Explore the Artwork Trail

Why don’t you go out and find all the pieces of artwork on the trail of the Sea Swallow? There’s Mary’s Shell, the Ogre and much more to find.

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There’s much more information about each of these pieces at the following links:

• Shipwreck Memorial
• Sea Swallow
• The Ogre’s Paddle
• The Ogre
• Mary’s Shell