Art In Consett, County Durham
Two huge sculptures of 19th century surveyor's instruments standing on freaky feet!
After receiving countless emails to the Fabulous North inbox asking us why we aren't posting about 19th century surveyors instruments with weird feet, we have finally caved in. So here you go, it's Terris Novalis.
Perched up on a small rise near Consett they are two huge sculptures of an engineer's level (used for high level horizontal accuracy) and a theodolite (used to measure horizontal angles). Built out of stainless steel they are over 20 times the size of the regular instruments and are a reflection of the industry history of the region.
They are actually located on the original steelworks site and right next to the old Stanhope and Tyne Railway line (the oldest commercial railway line in Britain).
From a distance everything appears normal, until you take a closer look at the freaky feet of the sculptures. The level is propped up by the feet of a lion, cow and bird of prey, whereas the theodolite stands on a horse hoof, a human hand and the foot of a lizard or crocodile.
The feet are said to be inspired by - symbolic heraldry found on shields, coats of arms, plaques and items associated with land and ownership.
Terris Novalis translates to “in newly cultivated lands”.
If you on your bike and fancy visiting nearby sites, then continue east on the C2C cycleway and you will find the Old Transformers (5km away) and Old King Coal (a further 13km onwards).
Get 4 points if you have visited this place. Already visited by 16 VIPs.
Login to the VIP area to add places to your bucket list, mark them as visited and more importantly see where you rank on the league table.
What three words
deaf.verse.rally
Lat / Long
54.845637, -1.836919
Show Place On Google Maps
Using the map, head back to the roundabout, carefully cross the road and then follow a well marked sign onto the C2C cycle path.
What three words
body.landed.icons
Lat / Long
54.84852, -1.836122
Easiest place to park is in the neary retail park (Matalan or Morrisons) and then it's just a 5 minute walk to the sculptures.
Contributed by Simon Hawkins
Thanks for checking out this place on the Fabulous North! I do enjoy a wander out in to the countryside trying to find hidden gems that not many people know about. You can't beat a rogue Pele tower up a remote hill or a mysterious stone circle or a stunning waterfall secluded in a forest.
Statues of the Ironmaster and Coal Miner made from obselete components representing the legacy of the local steelworks.
An atmospheric Anglican church and mausoleum abandoned in the 1970s.
A sculpture of four metal cows constructed from old JCB parts, grazing on the C2C route near Beamish.
A metal statue by Ray Lonsdale built as a memorial for fishermen lost at sea from North Shields.
A circular labyrinth made out of a selection of stones in memory of a dog.
A free art gallery in the centre of Newcastle housing works by Henry Moore, Thomas Bewick, Norman Cornish, Richard Hamilton and Charles Napier Hemy among others.
We post all our new places daily on our Facebook Groups page, so join the group today and be notified when we add a new place.