Seven Spires

Andy Goldsworthy – Bogle Crag – 1984

Photograph from ‘Grizedale Experience’ 1991 by Mike Oram

Material: Wood

Trail: Bogle Crag Trail

Theme: Nature

Form: Representation – Spires

Size: 25 feet high, 5 feet across at base

Maps Featured on: 1984 – 1997

Status: Removed 1998, no remains

Quote from the artist – “”I wanted the pine trees to dictate the idea, scale, form, construction and location of the piece. In making the spires I wanted to concentrate the feelings I get from within a pine wood of an almost desperate growth & energy driving upward. The spire also seemed appropriate with its references to churches &, in particular, the cathedral with its architectural use of lines leading the eye skyward. I also felt a similarity in the subdued brown light and stillness found in both cathedrals and pine trees”

Listed in The Andy Goldsworthy Project book are the people who helped Goldsworthy create the work namely John Ogden, Richard Todd, John Goldsworthy & Judith Gregson.

Andy Goldsworthy at Yorkshire Sculpture Park features photographs of the Spires being built, seen above. (Click for larger images).

From ‘A Sense of Place’ book 1984

“The seven set of clustered pine trunks grouped in tall pyramid forms are made from the forests surplus timber. One spire is easily visible from the track and it’s prominence signals the presence of the whole work. But to find the other spires and experiences the sculpture in its entirety the viewer must leave the light track and walk in amongst the trees.” – Hand to Earth

Photo by Bill Grant

Seven Spires was Andy Goldsworthy’s first permanent sited work, in the early 80’s he had submitted several proposals to Grizedale which were unsuccessful before finally being accepted. The location, amongst full grown pine trees, at a bend in the forest trail just above Bogle Crag car park. The Spires took 8 weeks to make and were very tall, all between 35 to 47 feet, almost as high as the full grown trees themselves. Five spires can be seen in both photographs above.

Photograph from ‘A Sense of Place’ 1984 by Mark Prior

“Expected to have a life span of fifteen years, the work stood for fourteen. By 1994 it had already deteriorated, and was finally removed and destroyed on 30th July 1998.”

Photograph from The Wall book by Andy Goldsworthy 1997

David Penn wrote a letter to Andy saying “The spires have gently been extracted from their site without damaging the guardian trees. The [Forestry Commission] took them down to Blind Lane where, after much huffing and puffing, [the spires] were consumed by fire. A quiet demise.” – Tina Fiske, Andy Goldsworthy Project.

Stick Spires – Helbeck, Cumbria – 1983

Photograph by Andy Goldsworthy from Here

This photo appears on the Goldsworthy archive website which shows every ephemeral artwork Goldsworthy produced between 1976 and 1986. This artwork entitled ‘Stick Spires’ was created on 10th March 1983. The diary entry from the time reads: “Helbeck – worked hard – long day too tired to make a drawing. Reworked birch spire made day before – would have liked to have made a grouping but not really enough trees (windfallen). Very hard work carrying trees up from wood on to open space/ cragg/ wood. An idea for Grizedale?“.  

Archive website –  www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/

“During a visit to the forest in early December, he made a small-scale, ephemeral  maquette of Seven Spires, using bracken.” – Tina Fiske, Andy Goldsworthy Project

---

Artist’s other work in Grizedale –

Woven Ash Ball –  1984

Sidewinder – 1985

Gallery – 1988

Taking a wall for a walk – 1990

Page last updated Jan 2021