Pope's Urn

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Pope's Urn on Twickenham riverside

Pope's Urn, on Champion's Wharf[1] at Twickenham riverside in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, is a contemporary piece of public art inspired by the poetry of 18th-century Twickenham resident Alexander Pope,[2] who is buried in the parish church that overlooks the wharf. It consists of a stylised urn on a pedestal, both made in corten steel and standing just over eight-foot (2.5 metres) high,[3] surrounded by wooden benches inscribed with aphorisms written by Pope. It was commissioned to celebrate the 2015 Rugby World Cup, for which Twickenham Stadium was one of the venues, and was opened in a ceremony on 21 September 2015.[4]

Pope's Urn was the initiative of Twickenham resident Graham Henderson as public art consultant for the London-based arts charity Poet in the City.[5] Henderson conceived the project and worked in partnership with Richmond upon Thames Council,[6] and the architectural design practice Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios,[7] to design, build and install it. It was unveiled by Lord True, Leader of Richmond Council, in a ceremony which included readings from Pope's works by the actor John Hannah, who is a local resident,[8] and by the actress Dame Harriet Walter.[4]

The sculpture is based on drawings that have survived of an urn designed by Alexander Pope for a friend's garden at Hagley Hall, Worcestershire.[3] The original urn no longer exists.

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Champions Wharf Sculpture Park". London Parks and Gardens Trust. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  2. ^ Flood, Alison (28 September 2015). "Alexander Pope is granted eternal sunshine of a Twickenham memorial". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b Grix, Ken (13 September 2015). "Pope's Urn Sculpture". Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Pope's Urn unveiled on Twickenham Riverside". Richmond upon Thames: This is Our Town. September 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  5. ^ "Public Art". Poet in the City. 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Parks Improvement Programme – Pope's Urn at Champion's Wharf". London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Pope's Urn gets planning permission". Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  8. ^ Cowley, Louise (8 August 2015). "John Hannah appointed patron of Richmond's music and drama festival". Richmond and Twickenham Times. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
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51°26′48″N 0°19′29″W / 51.446609°N 0.324584°W / 51.446609; -0.324584

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