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Sculpture

Gatehouse Square, Southwark

Erection date: 12/11/1987

Inscription

{On the plaque attached to the back of the plinth:}
This plaque was unveiled on 12th November 1987 by the Mayor Councillor Mrs Dorothy Winters to commemorate the social housing and nearby workshops which provide job opportunities for local people. These developments have been the result of the commitment of the local community, the Greater London Council and the London Borough of Southwark.

{On a nearby matching plaque:}
The Gatehouse Square development was designed by the Greater London Council for Southwark Council and constructed with funds provided by the Sea Containers Group. The pavement mosaics which decorate this square were designed and made by pupils from the following schools: Aylwin School, Snowsfields Primary School, St. James’ CofE Primary School, St. joseph’s RC Primary School, George Row, Tower Bridge Primary School.  The bronze figure "Great oaks from little acorns grow" was sculptured by Brian Yale.

 

The sculpture is titled "Great Oaks from Little Acorns".  From :"... holding her hands over an acorn which rests on the top of the wall. On her left, appearing to erupt from an amorphous mass at the rear of the wall, are various bottle-shapes and others that may be intended to represent small machine parts. The narrow top of the wall has a channel running along its entire length (The Thames?)"

Site: Gatehouse Square, Southwark (1 memorial)

SE1, Gatehouse Square, parking area to the south

This is a strange and, to our mind, not very successful piece of public art. It's stuck away in a parking area and the subject depicted is not clear. It was cold and the light was fading so maybe we just did not spend enough time to appreciate it.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Gatehouse Square, Southwark

Subjects commemorated i

Gatehouse Square, Southwark

Social housing and nearby workshops designed by the Greater London Council fo...

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Greater London Council

Replaced the LCC. The GLC was abolished, some say, because Mrs Thatcher could...

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Southwark Council

The London Borough of Southwark was created as an amalgamation of the Metropo...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Gatehouse Square, Southwark

Created by i

Councillor Mrs Dorothy Winters

Mayor of Southwark in 1987.

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Brian Yale

Sculptor.  We can't find evidence that this Brian Yale is the sculptor who di...

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Nearby Memorials

International Memorial to Seafarers

International Memorial to Seafarers

SE1, Albert Embankment, International Maritime Organisation

{On a plaque to the left of the sculpture (in English and also in 2 non-Latin scripts):} International Memorial to Seafarers Unveiled b...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Andrew Mellor

Andrew Mellor

WC1, Queen Square

Purchased by the Friends of the Children of Great Ormond Street Hospital in memory of Andrew Mellor. April 2001 Sculptor - Patricia Finch

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Caryatid - left

Caryatid - left

SE16, Southwark Park

A nearby information board informs: The Caryatides of Rotherhithe Old Town Hall Designed and constructed {* see our note below} by Henry...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Blewcoat School SW1 - charity boy

Blewcoat School SW1 - charity boy

SW1, Caxton Street, Blewcoat School

2015 - an information board has been added: Erected in 1709, Blewcoat School is built of red and yellow brick with rubbed brick and stone...

2 subjects commemorated
Civilian deaths in WW2 - Blitz East London

Civilian deaths in WW2 - Blitz East London

E1, Hermitage Riverside Memorial Garden

The lettering on the plinth does not look contemporary with the dove sculpture. It has the look of having originally been on a older mem...

4 subjects commemorated, 1 creator