Realm of Taurus, Enclosure & Stag Pit

Keir Smith – Breasty Haw – 1980

Photograph by Bill Grant

Material: Wood

Trail: Bogle Crag Trail

Theme: Enclosure

Form: Abstract

Size: Enclosure – 25 Feet Across, Larch Posts 3 Feet High

Maps Featured on: 1981 – 1987

Status: Removed, no remains

These three sculptures all sat together, (a few hundred yards apart) in the forest at Breasty Haw, working together to form one overall piece. On the 1981 map they are all listed under one title ‘The Realm of Taurus’.

Quote from the Artist:

Photograph – Realm of the Taurus from ‘A sense of place’ 1984 by Mark Prior

The entire artwork was sited at the end of a forest track into the trees. You would be greeted by two gateposts marked with Orion and Taurus before walking on to find the large enclosure. 25 feet across, a 3ft tall woven larch fence contained 25 posts cut from one larch tree, and so varying in size. Ten posts were branded with an adult cow hoof, 5 with a calves. The spacing of the posts determined by the throw of a dice.

Photo from Grizedale Archive

A post at the entrance to this enclosure was marked with the symbol of Taurus, as if he presided over and protected the herd within.

From ‘A Sense of Place’ Book 1984 photo taken by Keir Smith

A few yards away from the large enclosure was a smaller square enclosure within which were two posts, with Aries the ram and a ewe hoof print on. This colour photograph clearly shows Enclosure, in the background, highlighting how close the work was together.

Photograph from ‘A Sense of Place’ 1984 by Richard Padwick

Returning in the autumn of 1980 Smith added a final piece to the work. A stag pit cut into the ground. Bronze antlers were cast and dropped into the pit. These were later stolen. They were meant to represent the conflict between animal and humans. The deer here having been killed for food.

Photograph from ‘A Sense of Place’ 1984 by Keir Smith

This work has a lot of deeper meaning, and without explanation is hard to figure out, especially compared to Smith’s other work. Hopefully the text on this page will make the work make sense. None of the sculptures were listed on the 1989 map so it must have gone prior to then.

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Artist’s other work in Grizedale –

Seven Stones Before The Old Man – 1980

Last Rays of an English Rose – 2009

Exhibition – 2011

A Flower in Flower – 2014

Running from Eden – 2022

Page last updated Jan 2021