Public Art: Meet the Ogre on Cleveleys Beach…

If you go down to the seafront you’ll get a big surprise! Have you met the stone Ogre on Cleveleys beach – with glowing red eyes!

The Ogre and the Sea Swallow

The Ogre is a stone sculpture sat on Cleveleys beach. Find him when the tide is out, at the end of a stone groyne not far from Mary’s Shell.

The Ogre is a key feature of Cleveleys Mythic Coast Trail. The Sea Swallow is a specially commissioned story book, combining local folklore, myth and the legends around Wyre’s coastline. The story is told in giant-sized pieces of public art at the seafront and beach. Find links to more on the other pieces of art at the end of this page. And in 2025, the Care for Cleveleys group breathes life into the Ogre, bringing him out into the town centre for the first time at ‘The Ogre Emerges’ event.

Meet the Ogre on Cleveleys beach in this video –

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Where is the Ogre?

You’ll only see the Ogre when the tide’s out. He’s sat on the beach at the end of the stone groyne, and emerges from under the water with each tide.

How to find this artwork:

• Walk north along Cleveleys stepped promenade to the cafe with the sea on your left.

• Or you could use the postcode for the cafe which is FY5 1LW.

• In front of the cafe is Mary’s Shell. To the left of the cafe is another stone groyne. The Ogre is facing Mary’s Shell, at the seaward end of that groyne.

• Can you what looks like a single big stone? Stood slightly apart from the others? That’s the Ogre.

If your particular aim is to take photographs of him, the best time to visit is early in the morning. Later in the day the sun/light is on the back of his head so his face is in the shadows.

The next video is filmed from the promenade, panning over this bit of beach. It starts with Mary’s Shell, and you can see the Ogre two thirds of the way through the clip.

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Green and White

When he was newly made and just installed, the Ogre was bright, white stone and easy to pick out.

He is frequently cleaned – but because he spends a lot of time under the water, he quickly goes green. (Aren’t Ogres green anyway?) When he’s green he blends in with the rock groyne – so look closely!

The Stone Ogre on Cleveleys Beach – he’s under water twice a day!

As the tide comes in the Ogre retreats to his watery underworld.

When the tide goes out, first the top of his head appears. Then his red eyes come out of the water, until his whole chubby body is exposed for you to look at, touch, explore and say hello to.

He’s not a small chap. Carved in stone and 2.4 x 1.5m in size he’s a big lad!

Installation of the Ogre in January 2014

Monday 13th January 2014 dawned bright, crisp and sunny, although the weather was changing by lunchtime. The installation troops gathered as the tide went out – cheered on by a growing group of onlookers watching from the promenade.

The JCB was first on the scene, followed by the Ogre laid flat on his trailer, delivered to site by a shiny blue tractor.

Not long later, after a bit of lifting and manoeuvring, our friendly Ogre was sat in his new home at the end of the groyne. He was in place on the beach, facing the promenade between the cafe and the cinema.

Don’t forget to share your photos of the Ogre in the Visit Fylde Coast Facebook Group!

The Original Plans for the Stone Ogre on Cleveleys beach

This was the original artists illustration of him at design stage –

And this is our friendly local giant –

If You go Down to the Prom Today…

During the Covid 19 pandemic we’ve found our forte as YouTubers! To keep our lovely readers amused and entertained, for a long time we did a live chat known as ‘Brew at 2’. John Hitchon was a regular viewer and he sent in some of his poems to read out during our madcap half hour, including this one about the Ogre. Thanks John!

If you go down to the prom today
You’re in for a big surprise
A sitting on the beach at Rossall
Is the Ogre with the big red eyes.

I wish someone would clean him
And wash away the moss
He’s covered in seaweed and algae
Let’s have some respect for the Boss.

There’s Mary’s Shell
Sitting there on the sand
Metal in structure
With a mossy green band

The Ogre’s Paddle lies there on the prom
With carvings for us all to see
Holiday makers, and for us all to enjoy
Including both you and me

The beach is looking ever so clean
That’s thanks to the volunteers
It’s a credit to them that has done this for us
As it hasn’t looked this good for years.

John Hitchon 2018

Other Pieces of Public Art

There are other pieces of art along the Wyre coastline – here’s where to find them:

• Mary’s Shell is on the beach but so big that you’ll find it even at high tide.
• Spot the Ogre himself sat on the beach when the tide is out.
• And the Ogres Paddle on the promenade outside the cinema.
• The Sea Swallow is at the end of Victoria Road West
• Where Cleveleys meets Blackpool is the Shipwreck Memorial – and a great big Cleveleys sign!

Take a walk around the Mythic Coast Trail at Cleveleys –

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