I recently posted a very long set of images which formed the basis for a research & contextual study I have produced for the Bus Station Project. I have now managed to sort out how to post a link here to the actual pdf document, which you can now view with much more clarity.
This pdf is only a part of the contextual research which has been done – but forms a good basis on which to reflect upon the influences and threads of research which have caught my attention. Much more work has been done since this was completed and I hope to post more images of draft and concept drawings and sketches very soon.
The first page of the pdf looks like this image below – so you will know you are on the right tracks! Click here:
Monday 18th May 2015 – today I have to revise and update the contextual research document I made earlier in the schedule –
I want to submit this as supplementary research and development to illustrate how the artist (me) has worked with the project team in order to influence the design process. Not easy to reduce and re-define what has gone before, but so much more has happened over the last few weeks, that I have to bring this up to date. Am in my studio here in Ramsgate trying to figure out the best approach. I think it’s going to be a late night !
Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th May 2015 -On Tuesday I travelled up to Cardiff from Ramsgate, Kent for a design meeting with Capita, the project architects. I was accompanied by Simon Fenoulhet of Celfwaith, who developed and is overseeing the Public Art Strategy for Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council along with Mererid Velios. Great to have someone with his experience with whom to navigate the project !
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Artist sketchbook notes and contextual references. Image: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Artist sketchbook notes and contextual references. Image: Christopher Tipping
We discussed the draft development of the building and landscape and how the creative contextual research and analysis of the site, which I have been doing in order ‘to influence the design process’ is becoming a part of the interpretive strategy for the building. Once this process becomes more involved and collaborative then I hope we will see some really interesting narratives and themes emerging. We are continually having to address the function of this site as a Bus Station and interchange and the demands it brings to the project. That notwithstanding, the interpretation and contextual needs and aspirations for this site have to be seriously considered.
Wednesday was our final team meeting before the presentation to the Design Commission For Walesscheduled for Thursday 21st May.
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Artist sketchbook notes and drafts. Image: Christopher Tipping
I met with Jason Williams, Lecturer in Art & Design at The College Merthyr Tydfil, and co-ordinator of Level 3 Art. This is just one of a much wider portfolio of courses offered within the division of Creative Industries at the College, which is headed up by Chris Ford.
The Art & Design studios are on the top floor of the building affording the most amazing and creatively aspirational views in the region. Creativity is really significant here. I like to think of this place as a powerhouse of ideas and inspiration – innovation and energy – building a new legacy for Merthyr Tydfil via Education and the Arts.
We discussed the potential for some engagement by students – in this case within Art and Design, but could perhaps encompass the wider Creative Industries Division – to work within and or alongside the Bus Station and Link Bridge developments to take advantage of a live project against which to set and test skills and creativity.
The potential to build this engagement into the Academic year is a tangible one, but something that would have to be developed quickly during this month in order to build it into the next Academic Year.
The College Merthyr Tydfil also shares space at Redhouse, the former Town Hall on the High Street, where all Music, Media, Film, Dance, Technical Theatre and Drama students study in bespoke professional standard facilities.
Thursday 30th April 2015 – This has been a crowded by very productive visit. Yesterday in the National Museum Cardiff and this morning meeting with the Principal of The College Merthyr Tydfil. What perhaps I didn’t mention in the last post, is that the aim of these meetings is to propose some form of engagement with educational establishments and local schools here in Merthyr, during the construction period of the new Bus Station.
This afternoon I had two very informative visits to local schools in Caedraw. St Mary’s Catholic School. Headteacher, Mrs K Wathan, unfortunately had to go to another meeting, I met with her deputy, assistant headteacher Mrs C Cope. St Mary’s school fields and perimeter fence run partly along Swan Street, juts opposite the site of the new Bus Station. This obviously raises questions about security, noise, transparency and the increased pedestrian activity on the site. As the schools are actually side by side and share a perimeter fence, very much the same issues arose when talking to Mrs J Watkins, Headteacher of Caedraw Primary Schooland her Deputy Head, Miss D Williams.
These issues notwithstanding, the purpose of my visit was to discuss the opportunity for engagement with the schools and pupils. This could be by way of a drawing or writing project about Bus Stations, or transport – or even to explore the impact of the new Bus Station on their school day. Quite often on project such as this the main contractor, once appointed, would engage with the local community. Often this translates as artwork on the site hoardings – which can be very visual and effective – to learning visits by children to the project site throughout the build programme to see exactly how this building is constructed.
I would like to see the contractors and other site specialists visit the schools to talk to the children about their work. I will develop this proposal in more detail over the coming weeks. WATCH THIS SPACE!
On a project at Combe Down, Nr Bath, I worked with a local school to commemorate the miners who had helped to save their village from subsidence caused by extensive historic stone mining under the village, which was causing problems. You can read about the project here. My involvement is also outlined here.
Combe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities. Ceramic Miners. Image: Christopher TippingCombe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities. Ceramic Miners. Image: Christopher TippingCombe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities. Ceramic Miners. Image: Christopher TippingCombe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities & Celebration event. Image: Christopher TippingCombe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities with Combe Down Primary School. Image: Christopher Tipping
One of the hundreds of miners who worked on the project volunteered to come to the local primary school to be the model for our Combe Down Miners Ceramic Project. Most of the miners came from South Wales.
Combe Down Stone Mines Project. School engagement activities. Ceramic Miners made by pupils at Combe Down Primary on display, along with the actual Miner at the project Celebration Event. Image: Christopher Tipping
Thursday 30th April 2015 – I met with John O ‘Shea, Principal of The College Merthyr Tydfil . We talked about the history of the Old FE College and the state of the art new building the college now occupies. I wanted to know more about the aspirations for students coming to this site and how they travelled to get here. The Bus Station project is part of a wider transportation and communication network in the town and region. Many students walk from the train station, so pedestrian routes through the town are of great importance.
The new building by RMJM Architects (who acquired YRM, the Architects of the original 1960’s college building) sits within an extended and spacious public realm with clear desire lines to the pedestrian link bridge. The feasibility study which is considering replacing the current structure with another design which also links to the new Bus Station, is a critical part of the transport strategy for the project. The building also sits upon the site of the former Ynsyfach Ironworks, which was extensively excavated and documented by the Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trustbefore the new building was erected.
Top Centre – The College at Merthyr Tydfil, the heart of the new Learning Quarter. Image: MLA Photography
Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College has also been a great help and has a wonderful and detailed photographic record of the earlier archaeological works undertaken on the site by GGAT. He has allowed me to reproduce some of the images here.
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Aerial Image of Merthyr Tydfil College of Further Education circa 1960 by permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Estates Manager, The College, Merthyr Tydfil.
The original College of Further Education by Yorke, Rosenberg & Mardell Architects (becoming YRM) is seen here circa 1960 – bottom centre of image. Just above this can be seen the original Iron Bridge at Ynysgau by Watkin George.To the right of the image can be seen the double weir on the River Taff. There is now only one weir which sits just up river from the St Tydfils Shopping Centre footbridge.
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Detail: The old College of Further Education from an image by permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Detail: The old College of Further Education from an image by permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Detail: A description of the College of Further Education when newly built taken from an image by permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.
Very interesting to see the list of project contractors – especially Merthyr Ceramics Ltd who supplied ceramic floor tiles.
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Detail: The old College of Further Education washrooms, from an image by permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Archaeological Excavations of the Ynysfach Ironworks on the site of The College Merthyr Tydfil. Image: By kind permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.
The brick arched furnace on the far right can still be seen today behind the main college buildings.
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Archaeological Excavations of the Ynysfach Ironworks on the site of The College Merthyr Tydfil. Image: By kind permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Archaeological Excavations of the Ynysfach Ironworks on the site of The College Merthyr Tydfil. Image: By kind permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.
The image above shows the excavated Refinery Building. This description is provided by Richard Lewis, Head of Projects for GGAT, who managed the excavation programme.
“The casting bed in the refinery are run out bays and water troughs. The iron ore (and limestone and coke) was fired in the blast furnace and cast into pigs in the casting house which was located in between the furnaces and refinery. The pigs were then taken to the refinery and subjected to further firing in an oxidising furnace and then the molten metal run out on a tray that sat on top of the long rectangular metal cistern (as seen in your photo) filled with continuously flowing water. The molten metal quickly cooled on this plate to form tea-tray sized refined ‘finers’ wrought iron plates. The removal of further impurities was aided by water being thrown over the molten metal which caused the slag to mobilse (exploding off in tiny slag balls).”
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Archaeological Excavations of the Ynysfach Ironworks on the site of The College Merthyr Tydfil. Image: By kind permission of Robert Imiolczyk, Head of Estates at The College, Merthyr Tydfil.
29th April 2015 – Before taking the train up to Merthyr, I stopped off in Cardiff to take a look at this exhibition at the National Museum Cardiff. Well worth the diversion and a possible connection to our project for the new Bus Station.
Did you ever expect to visit a ceramics exhibition and be asked to bring your vinyl collection along with you? Or to be invited to walk over and destroy one of the exhibits?
Fragile? showcases the beauty and diversity of contemporary ceramics practice in its widest sense. It explores the artistic and expressive possibilities of ceramic as a material, including the contradiction between two of its inherent qualities – durability and fragility.
The exhibition includes key works from the collection of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, shown alongside major, exciting installations commissioned from Phoebe Cummings, Clare Twomey and Keith Harrison. Ambitious new works by four Wales-based artists – Claire Curneen, Walter Keeler, Lowri Davies and Adam Buick– will be shown together with specially-commissioned films that will delve into each maker’s creative process.
Fragile? is generously funded by The Colwinston Charitable Trust and supported by The Derek Williams Trust’.
National Museum Cardiff
Fragile?’, Ceramics exhibition at the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Image: Christopher TippingFragile?’, Ceramics exhibition at the National Museum Cardiff. Image: Christopher TippingThe work of Adam Buick as seen in ‘Fragile?’, Ceramics exhibition at the National Museum Cardiff. Image: Christopher Tipping
I have been thinking about the possibility of commissioning contemporary applied arts, made by craftspeople based in Wales for the Bus Station project. How I go about this at this time is uncertain, as we probably have no budget for this, but I can clearly see a place for individual works within our proposal and concept for the Bus Station as a community space, referencing the locality and legacy in a personal and highly skilled manner. This reflects back to the skills and experience of former Ironworks employees and others from associated and parallel industries in the town. Adam Buickis an artist based in Pembrokeshire who references the varied landscapes of South Wales in his work.
‘Fragile?’, Ceramics exhibition at the National Museum Cardiff. Image: Christopher TippingTwenty Four Bricks, Various Manufacturers, Wales. ‘Fragile?’ National Museum Cardiff. Image: Christopher Tipping
Twenty four bricks from various 19th and 20th Century manufacturers in Wales are also on display in the exhibition.“Clays suitable for making bricks are commonly found above or beneath coal seams, so Wales has been home to many brickworks. Most brick clays are fired red but local variations can produce a wide range of colours and textures. Bricks are commonly inscribed with the maker’s name or the place of origin, adding to their local character”. ‘Fragile?’ Exhibition Notes. There were a number of brickworks active in Merthyr – amongst them were:
Jenkins
Merthyr Brickworks
Trebeddau
Dowlais
Hill’s Plymouth Co Ltd
Heolgerrig Brickworks
Thomas Town Brick & Tile Co.
Twenty Four Bricks, Various Manufacturers, Wales. ‘Fragile?’ National Museum Cardiff. Image: Christopher Tipping
The historic ceramics collection is very impressive too. Wales had several important manufacturers of pottery and porcelain including Nantgarwand Cambrian.
“Founded in Swansea in 1764, the Cambrian Pottery found success by imitating the high-quality pottery made fashionable by Josiah Wedgwood in Staffordshire.
This included creamware, black basalt and pottery beautifully painted by artists like Thomas Pardoe. High standards were maintained after 1802, when Lewis Weston Dillwyn took over the pottery.
The porcelain made between 1813 and 1826 at Nantgarw near Cardiff and at the Cambrian Pottery in Swansea is some of the most beautiful ever produced.
The man behind it was William Billingsley, a porcelain painter by training. From 1814 to 1817 he helped Dillwyn make porcelain at Swansea, before returning to Nantgarw in 1818 to make it himself.
Some Swansea porcelain and most Nantgarw porcelain were sent to London for decoration and sale to the top end of the market. The rest were decorated locally, until 1826 in Swansea and until 1823 at Nantgarw.
Pottery continued to be made in Swansea at the Glamorgan Pottery (1813-1838) and at the Cambrian Pottery, which closed in 1870. Llanelli’s South Wales Pottery was the only significant pottery left in south Wales until it too had to close in 1922.
The story of Welsh pottery and porcelain is told in the Joseph Gallery. The site of the Nantgarw China Works is now a museum, a few miles north of Cardiff.” National Museum Wales, Cardiff.
Welsh Pottery & Porcelain in the collection of the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Image: Christopher TippingWelsh Pottery & Porcelain in the collection of the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Image: Christopher TippingWelsh Pottery & Porcelain in the collection of the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Image: Christopher TippingWelsh Pottery & Porcelain in the collection of the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Image: Christopher TippingWelsh Pottery & Porcelain in the collection of the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Image: Christopher Tipping
St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre – I had the opportunity to get up on Wilkinson’s roof for an amazing 360 degree panoramic view of Merthyr and the surrounding hills. Nick Megor, the Shopping Centre Manager accompanied after gaining permission from Wilkinson’s Store Manager.
Looking South over the Swan Street site in Merthyr Tydfil & towards Caedraw as seen from Wilko’s roof by permission of Wilko’s and St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre. Image: Christopher TippingUpland Landscape of Merthyr Tydfil from Wilko’s roof by permission of Wilko’s and St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre. Image: Christopher TippingNew Bus Station site on Swan Street during demolition of the Police Station as seen from Wilko’s roof by permission of Wilko’s and St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre Manager. Image: Christopher TippingThe College at Merthyr Tydfil with footbridge over the River Taff as seen from Wilko’s roof by permission of Wilko’s and St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre. Image: Christopher TippingLooking North over Merthyr Tydfil River Taff footbridge as seen from Wilko’s roof by permission of Wilko’s and St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre. Image: Christopher Tipping
Nick also had a collection of aerial photographs of the local area probably taken in the late 1970’s / early 1980’s and during construction in the mid 1960’s of the pedestrian bridge linking the west side of the Taff to the east and the new – as then – shopping centre.
Looking North East across Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre, circa 1960’s showing the St Tydfil’s Link Bridge under construction across the Taff. The bridge was installed just below the weir. Image: by kind permission of St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre Manager.Looking North East across Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre, circa 1960’s showing the cranes involved in the construction of the St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre. Image: by kind permission of St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre Manager.Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre, circa 1960’s showing the St Tydfil’s Link Bridge under construction across the Taff. Image: by kind permission of St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre Manager.Postcard image looking North West across the Taff towards the FE College, circa late 1960’s showing the now dismantled arm of the St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre footbridge. Image: by kind permission of St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre Manager.
Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre, circa 1980. Image: By permission of St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre Manager.Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre, circa 1980 showing the pedestrian link bridge across the River Taff. Image: By permission of St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre Manager.
At the top left of this image can be seen the Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station – which is now on the move to a new site just out of shot here on the far right of this image on Swan Street.
Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre, circa 1980 showing the Bus Station at the bottom and the site of the new Bus Station at the very top. Image: By permission of St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre Manager.Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre, circa 1980 showing the Bus Station at the far left and the site of the new Bus Station just out of shot on the far right. Image: By permission of St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre Manager.
On 5th March 2015, I made a presentation to the Bus Station Stakeholders Meeting of current contextual research in relation to the Bus Station project and the Link Bridge Study.
I thought it may be of interest to post all these images here. There are a fair few – so bear with it ! – it is useful to know how the research is being delivered and what is shaping my approach. The screenshot image below gives a clear idea of the number of images I am posting – stick with it as there are some great images and quotations…
I have credited all sources of information and am grateful to all organisations and individuals who have assisted me thus far. Where permissions to use images have not been possible, these images have been withdrawn from posting online.
Where Ordnance Survey Maps have been used, they are all out of copyright, however, I have added a credit – ‘Reproduced from the …date… Ordnance Survey Map’, which the Ordnance Survey suggest on their website.
At the scale above – the individual images are not so clear – so I have added all the images individually. It makes for a long post – but hopefully you will find something of interest here ! Here goes – Image No.1 …
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. Artist: Christopher TippingMerthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project. Contextual research presentation. 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This ends the presentation images –
Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station Project – Ynysfach Iron Works was on the site now occupied by The College, Merthyr Tydfil. The remains of the original Blast Furnaces are visible as is the restored Engine House at the north of the site. Image: Christopher Tipping
The Engine House was one of a pair of Engine Houses on the Ynysfach Ironworks site. ‘The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd undertook investigations at Merthyr Tydfil College, on the site of the former Ynysfach Ironworks, which began in August 2011 and were completed by January 2012. Archaeologists from the Trust excavated and recorded structures belonging to the former ironworks, which had survived unexpectedly well, buried underneath the college buildings’.
To see the amazing animated 3D reconstruction of the site. produced as part of the interpretation for the project, press on this link. A permanent exhibition of this project can be seen at The College, Merthyr Tydfil, which is built upon this site.
The restored Ynysfach Engine House, Merthyr Tydfil. Image: Christopher Tipping
I met withSteve Brewer & Ceinwen Statter , members of the Merthyr Tydfil Historical Society, who operate out of the recently restored Engine House of the former Ynysfach Iron Works. Mary Owen – Author of book on the New Rectory of Merthyr Tydfil, was mentioned as someone who may have some insight on Swan Street history. Clive Thomas, the author of a history of Cae-Draw School, was also mentioned. The Merthyr Tydfil Historical Society also publish the Merthyr Historian, which is a 26 Volume history of the town from every source possible. Published from 1976 to the present, it has some engaging and surprising stories, records & contributory essays and images from many individuals. A great resource document ! A set of these publications is available in the Merthyr Tydfil Library.
Ynysfach Ironworks by Penry Williams, 1819. http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/
The site of the former Ironworks is now mostly occupied by The College, Merthyr Tydfil,the original ironworks being demolished and lost before and during the 1960’s.
The ruins of Ynysfach Iron Works prior to demolition. http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/
We discussed the site specific history of the new Bus Station site on Swan Street and references to a building called ‘The Rectory’, which is show on old OS Maps, but is not referred to in any written text I can find. Alan and his colleagues are assisting in researching this. The wider area around Swan Street is also rich in history and community, which needs to be addressed in this contextual study.
The College Merthyr Tydfil as seen from the new Rover Taff Gyratory Link Road. Image: Christopher TippingThe College Merthy Tydfil. Image: Christopher Tipping
The new College site – although first developed in the 1960’s – is historically relevant to the Link Bridge project, as not only was this the site of the Ynysfach Ironworks, part of the Cyfarthfa Ironworks, but the public realm and highway in front of the College and in-between it and the River Taff, was the site of the Glamorganshire Canal. There was a Lock Gate here, called Parliament Lock. An Archaeological Report was made by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust(Contracts Division) to support the Archaeological Watching Brief on Parliament Lock during pipe laying works in October 1995. The Report was prepared for Ove Arup & Partners who carried out the works.The report is really interesting. – click on Parliament Lock, above –
The Glamorganshire Canal and Parliament Lock, Merthyr Tydfil. Image: http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/
Parliament Lock Gate and House is in the bottom right foreground of this image of the Glamorganshire Canal. The bridge, seen at the middle far right of this image, is the Ynysgau Iron Bridge across the River Taff, built in 1799 by Watkin George for the Cyfarthfa Ironworks.
Glamorganshire Canal & Parliament Lock. Detail of OS Public Health Map of 1875 – showing the weirs crossing the Taff. The Canal & Lock are highlighted. Reproduced from the 1876 Ordnance Survey Map. Collection of Merthyr Tydfil CBC Libraries.
