The
theme of this year's Guild pieces is bridges. Each bridge in this collection is
not only separated by time but also in style, dating from pre-history to
Victorian times...
In making the theme for this year's guild David has again
captured the very character of our British heritage. From the different styles,
techniques and materials needed to make a safe and dry means of crossing a
river David has demonstrated in this year's Guild pieces that despite being
functional bridges can also be attractive. David
has again excelled himself in creating some more unusual and special cottages
just for members of the 2002 Guild. From
the very earliest bridge designs of "Avebury Crossing", through ornate wooden
structures in "Cedar Span", to the solidness and practical use of more modern
materials in "Old Iron Bridge" this years Guild pieces evoke yet again the
functional but attractive architecture that mankind has created through the
ages.
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Guild Membership Free
Gift
Once known as the old cedar toll bridge, this cottage and
bridge date back to Tudor times. Built during the reign of Henry VIII it formed
a valuable link between two villages. Prior to the bridge, the river was a
dangerous place to cross and necessitated a detour of many miles. Once the
bridge was built a small toll was charged to recover the costs of its
construction. After five years the people using the bridge felt that the
construction costs must have been more than recovered and that the toll was
unfair. The Lord of the manor, being fearful for the safety of his family
should a rebellion ensue, soon revoked the toll. He drew up a contract with
both villages decreeing that they would have free passage across the bridge, on
the understanding that both villages would be jointly responsible for the
upkeep of the bridge. With all in agreement this is how it remains to this
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Guild Redemption Piece
No. 31
When a team of archaeologists stumbled across the ruin of
this river-crossing it caused quite a stir. The original ancient Neolithic
bridge stones were found in the riverbed forming a small cascade, but the
upright pier stones were still in position after six thousand years! The
excavation revealed many exciting discoveries, from Bronze Age axe heads to
flint tools, all proving that the crossing could have been in use for many
hundreds of years before falling into the river. Most exciting of all was the
discovery of the remains of a stone roundhouse beside the bridge. Although no
one could be sure how tins particular building would have looked, no pictures
or records exist, it was decided to go ahead with the reconstruction with some
architectural guess-work. The round-house is now a small museum housing some of
the artefacts found during the dig and has become a place of great interest for
walkers and historians alike.
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Guild Redemption Piece
No. 32
Dating
back to the time of the Industrial Revolution, this water tower and steam
pump-house was originally to be built on the other bank of the river. However,
when the work started, it was soon realised that the ground was far too boggy
to support such a heavy structure. Fortunately the other riverbank was on
bedrock and was covered in only a thin layer of topsoil which was deemed to be
much more suitable for the build. Before the construction could proceed a
bridge had to be built across the river - no mean feat indeed! At first the
plans were drawn up for a temporary bridge, but the cost was not far short of
building a permanent one - so that idea was soon abandoned. After the
completion of the iron bridge, the work to build the water tower and pump-house
could commence, thus ensuring that tins 'monument to iron' remains an
inspiration to engineers to this day.
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Please note that these exclusive collages are only available
to Guild Members and only during 2002.
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Other bridge related cottages.....
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Year 2002 David Winter
Appearance Piece
Along
a tree lined country trail, beside a sparkling brook, sits this picturesque
little cottage. The stepping stones beside the cottage are used by many walkers
and ramblers each year to cross the brook The cottage was built around 1825 and
was used as a sub-post house and watering stop for mail coaches. Its life as a
sub-post house was short lived and it has had many different uses in the years
since. Unlike a lot of cottages set in such a rural area, it has never been
allowed to become run down and has always been well maintained. The family who
live here at present, have lived here for many years, and although quite far
from any local amenities, they could never imagine living anywhere else. During
the summer months it becomes a tea room where light refreshments are served -
walkers are even welcome to rest and enjoy their own picnics in the pretty
garden.
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The Main Collection
(Retired 1992)
The
tollkeeper developed with the Turnpike Road System which was created to pay for
the upkeep of Britain's highways and byways. He enjoyed a good standard of
living; most turnpikes were established for 21 years which meant a secure
future for him and his family, provided he did the job thoroughly. And the
cottage would have been rent-free for the duration. There were also perks -
money from travellers that never found its way into the ledgers. But all was
not necessarily well between the tollkeeper and the rest of the rural
community. He was despised for taking money from others simply to travel over a
stretch of road and often led an isolated existence. Local
folk knew the drovers' tracks and side lanes and could usually avoid the toll
gates. However, this particular tollkeeper is fortunate enough to be positioned
on a bridge over a river, where there are few alternative routes. His takings
are excellent - but his popularity is not so good!
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The Irish Collection
(Retired 1993) Here are two communities living their lives in
close proximity. They are both Irish, they speak the same language, they eat
the same foods, they do the same work and enjoy the same relaxations. They live
in a country blessed with stunning natural beauty. They regulate their daily
activity to the same hours, days and weeks of the year. They are good
people.
Between them runs a river which divides one community from
the other. It's basically a small river - little more than a stream most of the
time. It has been flowing there for as long as anyone cares to remember; it
ebbs and flows, sometimes barely a trickle and at other times a raging torrent
that threatens to sweep away all in its path. Across the river is a bridge.
It's been there for many years, as long as the communities themselves. Yet it
is rarely used. Here are two communities living their lives in
close proximity - only a span apart.
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1993 US Event Piece
(Retired 1993) Being a smallish island, Great Britain is
naturally surrounded by water - the North Sea, the English Channel and the
Irish Sea. Being a very wet country (it sometimes feels it has rained every day
for a month) we have brooks, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes doted about all
over the place and one is never far from an expanse of glistening fresh
water. When thinking about the theme of the 1993 Guild, David came
up with the idea of 'rivers and lakes' because it posed splendid opportunities
for sculptural forms. It also gave us the chance of inviting collectors to
participate in boating events together and to do what they like doing best -
meeting other collectors and talking about cottages.
Originally there was no event piece for the U.S.A. East Coast
Tour in 1993, but everybody involved pleaded with David to make a very special
cottage to commemorate the tour and also to involve to involve the collectors
and stockists who had participated in the 1992 West Coast Tour. All David had
to do then was to create from scratch a fabulous sculpture that would be a
landmark piece - in just two weeks! It was
a logical step for this piece to develop the Guild theme of 'rivers and lakes',
but it was the most amazing leap of imagination actually to put a series of
buildings on top of a bridge. The inspiration came partly from the original
London Bridge over the Thames which was a very long bridge housing a small town
of about 100 dwellings. David enjoyed Arches Thrice very much
indeed and will remember it as the David Winter Cottage that came right
immediately, almost as if it was meant to be exactly as it is.
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BIRTH DAY COTTAGE (ARCHES THOWNCE) |
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1993 Painting Promotion
Piece (Retired 1994)
Birth Day Cottage has been sculptured by David Winter to be
available exclusively at instore promotions. Each piece is personalised to
reflect the collector's birthday. Our painter attaches two small metal signs to
the front of the cottage, between two beams in the rickety gabled roof, which
show the day and month of the owner's birth. (We have tactfully omitted the
year for the sake of those who prefer not to be reminded of such things!) The
painter also adds the collector's initials to a special plaque situated next to
the front door. This makes every piece a unique, specially customised David
Winter Cottage. David sculptured Birth Day Cottage immediately
after completing Arches Thrice, the piece available only during his 1993 USA
Tour. As it name implies, this piece consists of a small hamlet built on a
bridge with three arches spanning a river, Birth Day Cottage is a house built
over a single arch spanning a river. When the original was finished, David
mischievously wrote on the base "Arches Thwonce" - and so the piece gained an
unusual but delightful alternative title!
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The David Winter Cameos
(Retired 1995)
Brooklet Bridge is an often overlooked, yet much used feature
of a village. This scene of rural calm and gentle peacefulness is reminiscent
of walks through the countryside with the dogs, watching them having a good
sniff at every blade of grass and fern. As soon as they scent water, they are
off like rocketing pheasants to splash about in the stream, they get
revoltingly muddy and then shake the mud and water off onto passers by!
Brooklet Bridge evokes David's warmest countryside
memories.
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The Pubs and Taverns of
England Collection (Limited Edition of 4500) (Retired 1998)
What wonderfully evocative names these old inns have "The
Tickled Trout" simply has to be a favourite haunt of fishermen. The river over
which the pub stands is rich in trout and crayfish, and the menu is based
largely upon these gourmet delights. Centuries ago great granite slabs were lowered into place
here (by Stone Age man David thinks), to form a bridge across the river. With
their limited equipment, this was an astonishing feat for these early bridge
builders. Centuries ago, too, a small fort was built here to protect and guard
the river crossing. The fort fell into ruin a very long time ago. Finally, the
debris was cleared away and some of the stones were given a new, useful purpose
in life by being incorporated into the building of "The Tickled
Trout".
Many of
the pictures used in this article have been supplied by my father who retains
their copyright. |
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Click
here to read more about the
The
Types and History of Bridges. |
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