Manual Ref* SUipIP051 Show 7 images 380
Title*

Pylons
County Suffolk   District Council Ipswich 
Civil Parish or equivalent Ipswich  Town/Village* Ipswich 
Road Rope Walk 
Precise Location Car park of Suffolk New College 
OS Grid Ref TM170442  Postcode IP4 
Previous location(s)  
Setting Car park  Access Public 
Artist/Maker Role Qualifier
Bernard Reynolds  Sculptor(s)  with 
Johns Slater and Haward  Architect(s)   

Commissioned by

 Ipswich Borough Council 

Design & Constrn period

 1960-1 

Date of installing

 1961 

Exact date of unveiling

 Jun-61 

Category
Abstract Animal Architectural
Commercial Commemorative Composite
Free Functional Funerary
Heraldic Military Natural
Non-Commemorative Performance Portable
Religious Roadside, Wayside Sculptural
Temporary, Mobile Other  

Object Type
Building Clock Tower Architectural
Coat of Arms Cross Fountain
Landscape Marker Medallion
Mural Panel Readymade
Relief Shaft Sculpture
Statue Street Furniture War Memorial
Other Object Sub Type:

Subject Type
Allegorical Mythological Pictorial
Figurative Non-figurative Portrait
Still-life Symbolic Other

Subject Sub Type
Bust Equestrian Full-length
Group Head Reclining
Seated Standing Torso
Part Material Dimension
Pylon  Aluminium on concrete  H 570 cm x W 115 cm x D 45 cm 
Pylon  Aluminium on concrete  H 570 cm x W 115 cm x D 45 cm 

Work is
Extant Not Sited Lost

Owner/Custodian

 Suffolk New College 

Listing status
Grade I Grade II* Grade II Don't Know Not Listed

Surface Condition
Corrosion, Deterioration Accretions
Bird Guano Abrasions, cracks, splits
Biological growth Spalling, crumbling
Metallic staining Previous treatments
Other  
Detail: Minor blackening in recessed parts

Structural Condition
Armature exposed Broken or missing parts
Replaced parts Loose elements
Cracks, splits, breaks, holes Spalling, crumbling
Water collection Other
Detail:

Vandalism
Graffiti Structural damage Surface Damage
Detail: The pylons are now isolated in an overgrown grassy patch directly in front of the unsightly fencing for five a side football pitches.

Overall condition
Good Fair Poor

Risk
No Known Risk At Risk Immediate
Signatures/Marks On each pillar: BR 
Inscriptions  

Description (physical)

 Two concrete pillars originally flanked the entrance to the tower block, which was demolished as part of the extensive rebuilding as Suffolk College became Suffolk New College in late 2008. The photographs on racns from 2006 show the beginning of the demolition, with the block under scaffold. The present desolate siting of the Pylons makes a mockery of the claim of one of the architects of the present scheme, James Flynn, that “ Sheppard Robson have worked very closely with IBC Development Control to achieve what we believe will a modern, dynamic and inclusive environment that will enable the College to attract and maintain staff and students.'  

Description (iconographical)

 The pylons were commissioned for the new college buildings designed by Johns, Slater and Haward and opened by the Queen, in June 1961.The patterns are realised in raised line, forming box like shapes. The tops combine a menorah (the emblem of the Jewish faith) with a cross, with another menorah on its side. Further down is a ‘stick’ man with arms outstretched, the Vitruvian man, but not set in a circle. Lower down on the left-hand column is a capital Greek sigma, matched on the right by a reversed Rho and Alpha. The backs resemble, no doubt unintentionally, very large circuit panels. Both sides incorporate symbolic motifs referring to scientific notation and typography, which are said to refer to the educational aspirations of the new institution split into the categories of science and art. The left-hand pillar suggests 'Man, the student of Nature's Laws'; the right-hand pillar 'Man, the humanist creator of Arts' 

Photographs

 Date taken:  17/8/2006
Date logged:  21/8/2006

Photographed by:
David Hulks

On Site Inspection

 Date:  17/8/2006

Inspected by:
David Hulks and Anna Glosser

Sources and References

 www.ipsart.org.uk/tour/pylons.htm accessed 12-May-07 / www.visualarts-ipswich.org.uk accessed 12-May-07 

Database

 Date entered:  12/5/2007

Data inputter:
David Hulks