Celtic Ring

Gilbert Ward – Bogle Crag – 1984

Photograph taken March 2018

Alternate Title: Quarry Ring

Material: Stone

Trail: Bogle Crag Trail

Theme: Landscape

Form: Abstract

Maps Featured on: 1984 – 2006

Status: Still in situ, October 2022

Quote from the artist – “The bedrock of Grizedale forest is Silurian Slate. The physical characteristics of this rock present technical problems for calving. ‘Celtic ring’ has been chiselled into the face of a typical Silurian rock outcrop.””The idea of a maze pattern seemed to be appropriate, as one invariably gets lost in the forest, & it has connections with the cup & ring marks at home… The symmetry of the pattern is broken when the rock surface rolls back to give a feeling of being there & not being there.”

Carved onto a large exposed rock face at Bogle Crag, part of an old quarry. It seems to be a labyrinth at first glance, it also has a lot of influence from ancient cup and ring marks which were carved into stone. Bill Grant said Gilbert originally wanted to use dynamite to create a sculpture, this idea was subsequently toned down into what we now see. The carving itself is quite large, though not very deep. If you didn’t know it was there it could be overlooked, especially as over the years lichen has started growing on the face making it less prominent.

---

Page last updated Oct 2022