Artwork on Abbey Walk car park – an update

On the pillars of Abbey Walk car park, there are a series of modern art concrete panels that were designed in the 1960s by artist and sculptor, Harold Gosney, having been asked to carry out the car park commission by the architects, Nicholson and Rushton.

Though there are 40 panels on the structure, these are a repeated series of 4 designs – some flipped 180 degrees.

In an interview with the BBC, artist Harold Gosney explained the inspiration for these: “The four designs I produced were inspired by drawings in the handbook of the car that I had at the time, which was an Austin Cambridge estate car, and included suspension, carburettor, etc.

“If the decision to demolish the car park on safety grounds is made, but at the same time if Grimsby residents feel it important for the artwork to remain as part of its community, my suggestion would then be that one of each of the four concrete panels could be preserved.”

Since then, the Council has had an initial meeting with Mr Gosney, facilitated by the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society.

At this meeting, the artist confirmed that these panels were cast in situ, with metal bars running through them which were integral to the car park structure, which is likely to make removal of the artwork incredibly difficult. Other options were discussed around how the artwork could be preserved in different ways.

The next stage of this element of the project is to consider other ways that the artwork could be preserved, which could involve, for example, digital scanning, or taking a physical mould of the existing artwork.  

Cllr Stewart Swinburn, Cabinet member for Highways, said: “We have agreed with Mr Gosney to see if there is a way one of each of the panels can be preserved for the future, although from the early discussions, due to the way these were integrated into the car park building, we may have to look at options other than removal of the panels.

“Work will continue to find the best way forward, and we’ll continue to involve Mr Gosney in these discussions.”