Public Art: Sea Swallow Sculpture

The Sea Swallow sculpture stands tall, white and graceful on the skyline at Cleveleys seafront. It’s visible as a marker from far around.

You’ll find it at the seaward side of the promenade at the end of Victoria Road West. It’s visible along the high street in the town centre. You can even see it from the roundabout near Morrison’s at Victoria Road West. North and south it’s visible all along the coastline.

This video clip starts at the Sea Swallow at Cleveleys seafront –

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What is the Sea Swallow Sculpture?

The Sea Swallow sculpture is a 30′ tall piece of public art and the key piece from the children’s story book of the same name. It joins other pieces of public art in the Mythic Coast Trail along the promenade and seafront at Cleveleys.

Artist Stephen Broadbent designed the coated aluminium sculpture. It was made and installed by Chris Brammall Limited of Cumbria.

Watch the Sea Swallows fly…

At the top of the graceful white sculpture, the Sea Swallows fly. They soar in all weathers, above our lovely seaside town.

Find the opening paragraph from the book and the last sentence, carved into the silver grey granite plinth at the base of the sculpture.

The birds carved into the plinth are based on illustrations in the book by Hannah Megee. Chinese artisans hand carved the stonework, copying maquettes created by the artist, Stephen Broadbent. (A maquette is a small representation of a finished sculpture. Sort of a ‘proof’ in the shape of a mini-me).

The tale of the Sea Swallow…

Down in Lune Deep
Far below the sea
Something sparkles
Like sunken treasure.

A strange boy is watching
But steals away in a flash
As the Sea-Ogre stirs
And our story begins…

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Installation of the Sea Swallow Sculpture

This is the artist’s impression of the Sea Swallow – an image designed long before it came to life. In hindsight it’s a very accurate representation of the finished work.

In mid May 2012, work had started on the foundations for the base and plinth.

Then on 19 June 2012, the sculpture was proudly lifted into it’s new place on Cleveleys promenade.

Here are the stones being carved in the workshop –

What is the Mythic Coast?

The Sea Swallow is a children’s story for the Wyre coastline, bringing to life the Mythic Coast.

It’s a fantastic narrative with threads of local folklore, blending myth and legend into a magical tale. Tales of petrified forests are in there, with sunken villages and the Sea Swallows which fly over the coast.

The Mythic Coast public art trail brings excerpts of text, images and poems to life on the seafront. And the Care for Cleveleys group is interpreting the narrative with story telling events in the town centre.

• First, where Cleveleys meets Blackpool, is the Shipwreck Memorial
• Next is the Sea Swallow sculpture
• Then the Ogres Paddle.
• Spot the Ogre himself sat on the beach when the tide is out.
• Finally you’ll see Mary’s Shell. It’s also on the beach but is even visible at high tide, it’s so big!

Tales of the Mythic Coastline spread beyond Cleveleys and into Fleetwood, being woven along the Wyre Coastline. Find it in the new sea defences at nearby Rossall, and beyond.

The next video is a walk through of the public art pieces at Cleveleys –

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Finn – a Merboy’s Tale

This poem is by Susan Pugh of Cleveleys Writers. Her inspiration comes from “The Sea Swallow” book (2011) – the mythical tale for Cleveleys which also inspired the public art on the seafront.

Skin so watery, palest of green,
With a translucent nature I’d never seen.
Aquamarine scales flow down his spine
Until around his hips they twine,
Flowing down along his tail
Diamond tiles of blue-green derail
Into arching spines of an enormous fin
Which holds aquatic energy within

His hair is a mass of seaweed and shell
With so many colours that no one can tell
What colour it is, what colour it’s not,
It’s just like a rainbow caught up in a pot.
His eyes are like starlight seen through a haze,
Like watery emeralds, in a mystical gaze.
His fingers are webbed, his nails long and blue,
He’s a beautiful creature to behold it is true.

He lives in the sea, but he watches the shore.
Longing to know the humans some more,
He swims with the dolphins and fish of the deep,
Yet he yearns for the folk of the village to keep
Just a space in their hearts for the Merboy named Finn,
Who rescues lost Seamen and guides their boats in.
Alas he is mute to those on the land
All he can do is to gaze at the sand.

A young girl named Mary…

Then a young girl named Mary who cried to the sea
In her pain and her anger, Finn turned out to be
The one who could help her to fulfil her dreams
On that dark stormy night, a saviour it seems.
He gave her a kiss to breathe under the waves
So Mary could search out the Humpback ray slaves.
Then tricking the Ogre she picked up the shell
That was magical, precious and saved them from hell.

Now the village is safe. The sea’s in its place.
The Ogre and Rays were lost without trace.
Mary and Finn now live at the lake,
A seawater lagoon that the great flood did make.
Two good friends once joined through sadness and joy,
Are a young girl named Mary, and Finn the Merboy.
At sunset you see them sat by the shore
Laughing and smiling. Not alone any more.