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Hammersmith Pumping Station is an existing Thames Water pumping station site, used to intercept the existing Hammersmith Pumping Station combined sewer overflow.

Sarah Staton

Smart queen caroline

The ‘cultural meander’ or heritage theme for the West section of the tunnel is ‘Recreation to Industry: Society in Transition.’ Within this concept, the artist considers the site-specific narrative for Hammersmith Pumping Station, which occupies part of the former riverside estate of Brandenburg House, where Queen Caroline of Brunswick, the controversial wife of George IV, died in 1821.  

In response to the Tideway’s historical Heritage Interpretation Strategy (HIS), Sarah has developed an artwork which presents a quote from Queen Caroline, as pertinent now as it was 200 years ago, and sets this in Doves Type, the whole is cast in bronze.

The artwork will enhance the public realm with the quote in a rich material, contrasting strongly with the Brutalist concrete surfaces of the pumping station. It will respect both the location and adjacent conservation area setting. The proposed text directly responds to the site and the River on a number of levels. Sarah hopes that it may inspire and engage the curiosity of local community, as it has inspired and broaden the local knowledge of the artist.

First public artwork unveiled