The Charter Stone, Romsey

Brief: ‘… to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the granting of Romsey’s Charter by commissioning a work of art … that suggests the essential spirit of Romsey…’

Portland limestone, 2007
h.400cm, diameter.70cm.

Breeze’s interest in local dialect words was an essential factor in winning this commission. Developed as a direct response to the site, Breeze chose the names of the River Test and its many ‘braids’, as well as its bridges and mills, which contain within them the essence of Romsey’s long social history, and produced a design which attempts to represent the complex interweaving of the town’s people and their watery heritage. These names are carved to flow down the column of stone and, although it is purely decorative, the relative positions of the streams, bridges and mills have been carefully considered to create a ‘sculptural’ map. The proximity of the Abbey was a key factor in the development of this ‘classical’ design. The column was unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen on the 8th June 2007.