Nailsea glassblower statue damaged

THE bronze statue of the glassblower outside Tesco supermarket in Nailsea has been damaged.

Nailsea Town Council chairman Mary Ponsonby said: “At this point we are not sure whether this is mindless vandalism or attempted theft but we have reported the incident to police.”

She was told the support holding the glassblower could have been sawn with a metal cutter.

Mrs Ponsonby said: “The council will have to pay for any repairs as it was impossible to get insurance against theft or vandalism for the statue.”

Barnstaple-based sculptor Vanessa Marston was commissioned to make the prized bronze which depicts a glassblower shaping a parison in preparation for blowing a cylinder of glass.

The artwork sits on the site of the historic 18th glassworks which is now a derelict rat-run clump of land, a new road and a supermarket car park at the end of the High Street.

The near life-size model stands on a plinth made from pennant sandstone called Nailsea Flats.

It has been in place for exactly two years ago this month.

Half the money to pay for the artwork came from Tesco as the developers as a ‘planning gain’ contribution and the rest was paid for by the town council.

Town clerk Ian Morrell has sought advice from Mrs Marston and a metal foundry on how best to repair the much admired piece.

He said: “It looks like an act of vandalism but it is difficult to see how it has broken off.

“The key thing for us is the get it repaired on site as soon as possible.”

Nailsea people have been quick to express their dismay.

Former town council chairman John Clegg said: “I was afraid something would happen eventually, but it has been an amazingly long time coming.

“I hope it is easily fixable.”

Marion Lindsey said: “The support that has been pulled away from the bottom. Hopefully can be sorted and quickly.”

ASAP distribution director Steve Hutson said: “I can't understand the mentality of some people.

“Why would anyone want to do something like this?”

The damage happened sometime over the weekend although the statue was pictured in prime condition late on Saturday afternoon.

The glassworks was established in 1788 and was one of the largest in the United Kingdom.

Work made by Nailsea ‘friggers’ – employees at the end of their shift - is still collectable worldwide.

The site has been the subject of several archaeological digs but most of the brickwork is thought to have been recycled by the 1960s by newcomers to the town to adorn garden rockeries.

Richard Barclay, of Backwell, the great-great-great-great grandfather of John Robert Lucas the founder of Nailsea Glassworks was at the unveiling ceremony performed by Mrs Ponsonby.

The plans then were to develop the glassworks site with a mixture of residential and retail properties but since the recession this has been put on hold.

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