We are ready to fundraise – help us raise £8000+ to restore this wonderful arch and artwork!
Local Community Group, Friends of Centurion Way (FOCW) are one step closer to realising their ambition to restore a wonderful piece of community artwork on this 9km walking/cycling path along the disused railway from Chichester up into the National Park, with plans to extend its route all the way to Midhurst and the South Downs Way. They have received a significant conditional grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (specifically for community heritage and artwork) via the District Council in addition to previous support from the City Council and a smaller grant from Miller Homes.
FOCW formed to save this wonderful path and its artwork from decay and decline. Having saved the southern end of the path from diversion from new housing, it is delighted to be working with other user groups, South Downs National Park Authority and West Sussex County Council (WSCC) to reinstate its finest artwork – the Gateway arch at its southern end – which creates a meeting point and marks the crossing point of three cycleways – Centurion Way to the north, the Salterns Way to the South and the Chichester/ Emsworth NCN 2.
Project Leader, Carley Sitwell, picks up the story of the arch’s unusual history and the group’s ambitious plans to restore and reinstate the arch. “The original arch was sculpted from the hull of an old minesweeper from Portsmouth harbour in 1995 by Richard Farrington, and installed by WSCC with some other wonderful sculptures along the path, some designed by schoolchildren. The mythical figures across the arch were drawn up by a local Bishop Luffa student. The arch was taken down in 2015 when a wooden support rotted but working with Southsea blacksmith, Peter Clutterbuck, who has a number of civic installations to his name, the arch will be reinstored in galvanised steel for longevity with plans to gild and name the arch for posterity”.
In launching the GoFund Me fundraising, Ian Swann, Chair noted that “artwork is never cheap”, adding that costs had risen unexpectedly. A big blow to the group was having to use an approved WSCC contractor for the arch’s reinstallation and foundations at a cost of £7500 but the group are appealing to the community to help put the arch back where it fell. “The benefits of restoring the arch are far-reaching: its heritage value, a visually pleasing landmark and a a statement piece contributing to Chichester’s well-established reputation for public art. All this also has a daily impact on the many people who use the path for commuting, leisure, pleasure and mental health and wellbeing.” Ian adds “We would be hugely grateful if any local residents or users of the path could support us – donations big and small really can make this project happen.”
For updates on this project progresses and for more information on how to donate, please go to our website at http://www.centurionway.org.uk/. TO SUPPORT: Please donate to GoFund Me at: https://gofund.me/1e63b422 (Centurion Way Gateway Arch)