Jim Partridge / Liz Walmsley – Ridding Wood Trail – 1991
When the Ridding Wood Trail was created in 1991, it was designed to be more accessible than the strenuous Silurian Way. Therefore it needed adequate seating along the length. These two seats were designed for that purpose.
Alternate Title (for Serpentine Seat): Silurian Seat
Material: Wood
Trail: Ridding Wood Trail
Theme: Seating
Form: Realism
Maps Featured on: 1993 – 1999
Status: Removed, no remains
Serpentine Seat (Silurian Seat)
Description from ‘Natural Order’ 1996 “The Serpentine seat is a Jim Partridge classic. Near the start of the trail, it invites one to rest before one begins. Constructed from a single beautiful S shaped piece of oak, it still seems to be alive! It has an ancient presence, sited under a low-leaf beech canopy, one could imagine it had been there for generations”.
Positioned near the start of the trail with a view across the fields and down the valley. I have flipped the photograph above so that it is the right way around.
Sessile Seat
Description from ‘Natural Order’ 1996 “Sessile Seat has the same qualities, but this is more the ‘expected’ seat found along the path. Again using one huge piece of sessile oak, its supporting legs are forever planted, immovable and strong. A seat where to watch passers by.” Sited just before the Sheltered seat looking over the valley.
Sessile seat and Serpentine seat are both listed on 1997/8 map. The alternative name for one of these seats is ‘Silurian seat’ which wasn’t listed previously but was last listed on 1998 map. They are both gone by 2000.
All Quotes by Meg Falconer, craftswomen at Grizedale, 1996
Artist’s other work in Grizedale –
Log Pile Bridge – 1987
Wooden Walkway – 1987
Larch Arch – 1991
Sheltered Seat – 1991
Tunnel Vision – 1992
Artist’s Website: www.jplw.co.uk
Page last updated April 2020
Grizedale Forest Sculpture An Unofficial Archive 