Centurion Way – Art in the Landscape
To celebrate the opening of Centurion Way in 1995, a group of artworks were commissioned by Sustrans, on behalf of West Sussex County Council, to provide points of interest along the route.
The Gateway Arch
Sculptor Richard Farrington created the original archway, which acted as a
meeting point at this southern end of the path. He created a set of galvanised steel characters, inspired by those seen in Romano-British mosaics in Fishbourne Roman Palace. These were mounted on top of a curved timber structure that was formerly the rib of an old minesweeper dismantled in Langstone Harbour. These characters included a Viking ship (or Roman galleon), a dancing deer, Roman gods – and even a magic mushroom!
Due to its rotting wood structure, the original arch collapsed in 2015 and was removed for safety reasons. The sculptures were preserved and kept in a County Highways depot. Happily, Friends of Centurion Way successfully campaigned for over five years to restore the arch to its former glory, gaining funding and support from several sources. Southsea-based blacksmith Peter Clutterbuck took on the restoration challenge and created a new structure from galvanised steel, guaranteeing a longer lifespan than the original. The mythical character sculptures were preserved and now sit proudly where they belong, welcoming everyone to Centurion Way.
The Chichester Road Gang
I make things out of things, big things, little things, old things and new things. I like to recycle things and find new uses for things that have been thrown away. Some things say something about their surroundings, and other things become something else.
David Kemp
You cannot miss these remarkable Roman sentries, created by Cornish sculptor David Kemp. Empty oxygen cylinders were used for the bodies and old cast iron rail chair fasteners for the faces. They were situated to mark the place where the old Roman road crosses Centurion Way – can you spot the sentry with a rake, the ganger with a bowler hat and one eye, and a surveyor with a theodolite (an instrument for measuring angles)?
The Primary Hangers
At Lavant Road Bridge you will be met by a striking installation. ‘The Primary Hangers’ are a set of suspended steel shapes, derived from drawings made in 1995 by students at Lavant Primary School.
Artist Richard Farrington, who was also responsible for the Gateway Arch, worked with the children using an overhead projector to create the shapes inspired by the natural world. Look out for a fish, butterfly, newt, snail and even a bat hanging upside down!
The Amphitheatre
Inspired by a traditional Roman amphitheatre, this former quarry
was designed and transformed by artist Justin Marshall into a beautifully sculpted space. It is maintained by a local farmer who mows it regularly, and volunteer work parties remove invasive plants. Although a manmade landscape, it reflects the important link to the Roman presence in this area.
