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The Sculptures of Thompson Dagnall from Liverpool

The Sculptures of Thompson Dagnall from Liverpool 

"Arte et Labore" by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Lower Darwen

Thompson Dagnall is a British sculptor. He was born in Liverpool in 1956, and he attended Liverpool and Brighton Polytechnics before gaining an MA at Chelsea College in 1979.

I first became aware of him because he worked on quite a lot of commissions in the Preston area.  It wasn't the first of  Thompson's work that I had seen, but the Crow's Nest at Lea was the first one I identified has being attributed to him.  Later, I identified other works in the area. 


"Crows-Nest"

The 'Crows-Nest', by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall was created in 2006 from oak and steel.

It was made for the waterways trust and is positioned on Savick Brook near the end of the Ribble Link.

This is intended to be a literal interpretation of the crow’s-nest on a ship atop the mast, a link between the inland waterways and the anticipation of the open sea, leading the mind out beyond the link on a maritime adventure.

Dagnall wanted to give the bargees a vision of a big black bird of ill-omen just as they are about to leave the safety of the inland waterways and head out to the open sea.


The Crows-Nest by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Lea, Preston
The Crows-Nest by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Lea, Preston


  

The Crows-Nest by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Lea, Preston
The Crows-Nest by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Lea, Preston

Crows-Nest on Google Maps:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/V3qcRRKtQMJoZmJ18


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“Daybreak”

by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall

Is the story of the intervals we divide our day into, parcels of time that link all of us, reaching back through time to previous workers on the site, Cotton mill workers and brick workers then forward to the next generation of workers of Morrison’s workers. (This site is now run by Tesco)

Using symbols that are universal and familiar to everyone it tells of the daily pulse of the local population in and out of the site both working and shopping.

Unique geometry

A properly set up Sundial is uniquely site specific due to its alignment and the angle of the gnomon, which draws a line parallel to the axis of the planet and changes for all locations.

This sundial tells the local time at Longitude –2.80024 Latitude 53.77063.

Recycling

The stone used to carve the “Breaks” in the day are reclaimed Pad-stones excavated on the site from the foundations of the earlier cotton mill.

Daybreak by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Deepdale, Preston
Daybreak by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Deepdale, Preston 


Daybreak by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Deepdale, Preston
Daybreak by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Deepdale, Preston 




Daybreak by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Deepdale, Preston
Daybreak by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Deepdale, Preston 

Daybreak on Google Maps:



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“Brothers In Arms”

By Sculptor Thompson Dagnall, commissioned in 2005.

Location: Ladybank Avenue, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9WB

///crowd.swept.longer

.

Words by Thompson Dagnall the Sculptor.

The realisation that fellow countrymen fought and died in these very fields lead me inevitably to a sculpture referring to the English Civil War.

The sculpture spans the road with a sculpture in two parts. Two figures, almost identical in Mirror image, train their cannons on each other. The only difference between them is that one wears a roundhead hat and one a cavalier. They could be brothers. The inevitable outcome of their cannons aim is a shared fate, the result of political and religious intolerance. I feel this is a theme not without on-going resonance.

2½ times life size in the local millstone grit at Longsands, Preston.


Brothers In Arms by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall at Longsands, Preston
Brothers In Arms by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall at Longsands, Preston



Brothers In Arms by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall at Longsands, Preston
Brothers In Arms by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall at Longsands, Preston


Brothers In Arms by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall at Longsands, Preston
Brothers In Arms by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall at Longsands, Preston


Brothers In Arms on Google Maps:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7H4Vf4o2aqxGQSeu8


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"War Horse to Water"

By Sculptor Thompson Dagnall

The head and neck of a horse swimming in head armour, as if above the surface of the water. On the village green Cottam, Preston. Commissioned by Lancashire County Council.


War Horse to Water by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall at Cottam, Preston
War Horse to Water by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall at Cottam, Preston


War Horse to Water by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall at Cottam, Preston
War Horse to Water by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall at Cottam, Preston


War Horse to Water on Google Maps:


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Thompson Dagnall Interview in 2015

In this Arts Alive programme, by Bay TV Liverpool in 2015, the presenter meets the sculptor Thom (Thompson) Dagnall. He talks about the different techniques for working in wood and stone and about his commission for the Chelsea Flower Show in that year.



The programme also discusses his 'Arte et Labore' in Lower Darwen, which is on the edge of the entrance and exit roundabout to the M65 Motorway.  Whilst, I didn't know that it was Thompson's work at the time, this is the first of his sculptures that I saw.  I worked in the Blackburn area at the time, often travelling between two factories that the company I worked for owned in Mill Hill and Shadsworths, and a number of contractor's premises in the Blackburn and Darwen area.  I distinctly remember my boss pointing it out to me and him discussing how he admired the composition.


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Further Reading and Sources of Information


Thompson Dagnall - Born 15th February 1956 in the posh part of Kirkby.

Educated at Ruffwood School with a Foundation year at Liverpool art school. Gained a First class Honours degree in fine art sculpture from Brighton then an MA from Chelsea College. For the past 25 years has been a Sculptor in stone, wood, steel and cast iron with most of the work in the public domain.

https://www.sculpturecarving.com/


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Thompson Dagnall Sculptor on the Art UK (Public Catalogue Foundation) website

https://artuk.org/discover/artists/dagnall-thompson-b-1956

https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/search/actor:dagnall-thompson-b-1956/page/2


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“Brothers In Arms” - Preston Past and Present Facebook group post

By Sculptor Thompson Dagnall, commissioned in 2005.

Ladybank Avenue, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9WB

///twin.poem.boring

https://www.facebook.com/groups/prestonpastandpresent/permalink/3787707581461431


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"Crows-Nest" - Preston Past and Present Facebook group post

The 'Crows-Nest', by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall was created in 2006 from oak and steel.

It was made for the waterways trust and is positioned on Savick Brook near the end of the Ribble Link.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/prestonpastandpresent/permalink/3698517800380410


.

“Daybreak” - Preston Past and Present Facebook group post

by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall

Is the story of the intervals we divide our day into, parcels of time that link all of us, reaching back through time to previous workers on the site, Cotton mill workers and brick workers then forward to the next generation of workers of Morrison’s workers.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/prestonpastandpresent/permalink/4354781131420737


.

"War Horse to Water" - Preston Past and Present Facebook group post

by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall

On the village green Cottam, Preston. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/prestonpastandpresent/permalink/3805051403060382


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"Arte et Labore" by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Lower Darwen
"Arte et Labore" by Sculptor Thompson Dagnall in Lower Darwen


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Labels:
Location: 21 Antigua Dr, Lower Darwen, Darwen BB3 0SF, UK

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