Summary

Type Landscape , Sculpture

A dramatically sited piece of 'land art'. Using 2,500 tons of granite reclaimed from the old Scotswood Bridge, the work consists of a number of interlocking stone walls and paving, making what seems to be a fortified position atop the windswept hill. Windy Nook hill is a former pit slag heap, turned into an art work and unveiled as part of Gateshead's Sculpture Week in 1986. It was built with the help of workers on a Manpower Services Commission scheme with sponsorship provided by Northern Arts and a number of commercial and government bodies. Cole was assisted in construction by Ross Winning.(1) As Windy Nook is an isolated spot high above surrounding housing estates it has inevitably attracted miscreants and vandals from the earliest days.(2) However, the robustness of the stone and earthworks means that little damage has been done. Children call the hill-top sculpture 'the fortress' and this is a popular area for residents from surrounding estates to exercise in, with a network of paths across the open ground. Gateshead council have contacted Cole about renovating 'Windy Nook' and hope that any necessary work will be undertaken in the not too distant future.

Contributor details

Contributor	Role
Cole, Richard	Sculptor

Element details

Part of work	Material	Dimensions
Whole work	Stone blocks and earth	3000cm wide x 1500cm deep

PMSA recording information

Reference	Region
TWGA25	NE