MOSAICS – Roman art you find in museums, right?
Yes, but not always.
Did you know that in Wokingham, 10 mosaic artworks are hidden in plain sight right beneath your feet?
Embedded in the town’s central pavements are nine circular mosaics, each one celebrating a different piece of Wokingham history.
Another is stretched across one of its buildings.
With the arrival of warmer weather, and the Easter holidays, why not go on a mosaic meander and find them all?
They were the inspiration of Wokingham Town Councillor Gwynneth Hewetson, who had a vision to promote the town through art in 2018.
On holiday in Barcelona she was struck by its mosaics in public buildings and walkways, and longed to create art for Wokingham residents.
“Everyone dreams of leaving a legacy,” she said.
“With the help of some very special people I was able to do just that.”
Local historians and art champions Jim Bell, Robin Cops, Peter Must, Gerry Mortimore, Jane Bonney, and Paddy Haycocks helped her choose which aspects of Wokingham life to feature in a series of artworks.
Six were created by artist Rosalind Wates, who also produced the Wokingham Methodist Church fish mosaics.
A further three were produced by artist Paul Siggins.
Rosalind’s mosaics are tesserae roundels made from tiny blocks of marble in soft natural colours.
Paul’s roundels in Elms Field are made of unglazed porcelain, and have brighter, more vibrant hues.
The metal fish that swim with Rosalind’s shoal of mosaic aquatics were made by metal sculptors Thrussells.
A short information video was made to accompany each artwork.
Produced by Quentin Clark from Silk Purse Videos, they were narrated by Wokingham TV personality and presenter of regional news programme South Today, Paddy Haycocks.
All can be easily accessed either via YouTube or a free Wokingham Town Council app.
“Gwynneth invited me to help put together the very short videos,” said Paddy.
“Each is less than three minutes long, and briefly tells the story of its artwork.
“Tens of thousands of people have probably already walked over these mosaics without noticing them.
“I hope many more can enjoy discovering them now.”
Where can I find the artworks and what can I discover online?
1 Market Charter Mosaic – (in the Market Place, west of the Town Hall)
Sponsored by High Steward of Wokingham. Film link at: youtube.com
-
How long has a market been held here, and what was Wokingham’s name on an ancient map?
-
Find out what grizzly entertainment townspeople enjoyed every 21st December.
2 The Red Lion Mosaic – (in the Market Place, outside the Red Lion)
Sponsored by More Arts. Film link at: youtube.com
-
How many miles is it to London?
-
Find out what entertained locals in centuries past, and how much a round of drinks and a packet of crisps cost in 1976.
3 Memorial Poppy (Flanders poppy) Mosaic – (near the Town Hall, towards Peach Street)
Sponsored by The Wokingham Society. Film link at: youtube.com
-
In which church does the town and its uniformed services gather each year to honour those who have given their lives?
-
How does Wokingham remember, and where does a lone bugler stand to play?
4 Firework Spectacular Mosaic – (at the junction of the Market Place and Broad Street)
Sponsored by Wokingham Fireworks Charitable Trust. Film link at: youtube.com
-
Find out about Wokingham’s torchlight procession and annual firework display.
-
Why is it such a huge attraction?
5 Heelas Mosaic – (outside Boots the Chemist, on the Market Place)
Sponsored by The Wokingham Society. Film link at: youtube.com
-
Discover a big department store that once dominated the market place.
-
What unusual items could you buy there, and where were its owners buried?
6 The Bush Inn Mosaic (at the end of Bush Walk, in Peach Place)
Sponsored by Wokingham Borough Council. Film link at: youtube.com
-
In 1925, what did workmen discover about the town’s history?
-
And what ‘flew’ from Wokingham’s Bush Inn every Monday in the mid 1700s?
7 Wokingham Methodist Church Fish Mosaics – (the Bradbury Centre, Peach Place)
Sponsored by Wokingham Methodist Church. Film link at: youtube.com
-
Discover why a shoal of fish swims around Wokingham Methodist Church.
-
Can you identify the St Peter fish?
8 The Electric Theatre Mosaic – (outside Everyman Cinema, Elms Field)
Sponsored by The Arts Society Wokingham. Film link at: youtube.com
-
Find out about Wokingham’s first public movie theatre.
-
Hear first hand what it was like as a child to watch a film, surrounded by palm trees and monkeys.
9 Play Mosaic – (at an entrance to the Elms Field play park)
Sponsored by Wokingham Town Council. Film link at: youtube.com
-
Discover the children’s play area.
-
Blast off into a world of bouncing, sliding, climbing and spinning.
10 Reflection Mosaic – (In Elms Field, by the memorial bench)
Sponsored by Haines Hill Trust. Film link at: youtube.com
-
Take an opportunity to stop for a moment and take stock of the simple things that give life meaning.
-
What do you see that gives you joy today?
Gwynneth. added: “I’m delighted to see these splashes of colour around the town that add a little interest to our journeys.
“I’d love to think that people might look out for them, and be prompted to discover snippets of information about our town.
“And I’d like to thank everyone who supported the project – without them it would never have happened.”
Spotting the mosaics is an ideal springtime activity for families and schools.
All can be found within a half hour walk, in or near Wokingham town centre.
The Wokingham Town Council app (via Google Play or Apple App Store) offers a map of the mosaics, information about the Town Hall, a virtual museum, Wokingham Blue Plaque Trail, and a borough War Memorial Trail.
All the films can be found on YouTube (search for Wokingham Mosaics) and via the Town Hall app.
For more information, visit: wokingham-tc.gov.uk/mosaics, rosalindwates.co.uk, themosaicstudio.com and thrussells.com
