Have you ever stopped to consider the story behind a roundabout sculpture? The Catch stands tall on the Fanshawe Avenue and Longbridge Road roundabout. This is in Barking, London. It’s more than just a piece of art. It’s a symbol of the town’s past and a beacon for its future.
The Catch is a gateway public artwork. Loraine Leeson designed it with Anne Thorne Architects. Alloy Fabweld Ltd built it. This 10-meter structure uses steel, rolled aluminum, and fiberglass. It reflects Barking’s fishing history and Saxon heritage.
Imagine nets cast upwards. They reach for the sky with the force of a wave. The design comes from Celtic knotwork. This knotwork is like that found in Barking Abbey ruins. These are the “nets of silver” from the rhyme. Fish leap from the nets. They move with the wind.
The artwork aims to inspire young people. It supports their ideas and wishes for the future. It reflects the borough’s regeneration strategy. Low-energy LEDs light The Catch. The lights shift through blue, green, and white. This mimics light through water.
Over three hundred children helped create The Catch. A local junior school participated. Each child made a fish with a wish for their community’s future. Graduate students from the University of East London ran workshops. They partnered with sixth form college students. This mentoring helped to connect everyone.
The artist helped the children create a book. It contained their fish and wishes. They presented it to the mayor at the project’s launch. The university displayed all the project work. The vice chancellor opened it. This generated positive publicity.
The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Council commissioned The Catch in 2002. It stands as a monument to the town’s spirit. You can see The Catch at any time.
A metal plaque stands by the roadside. It reads, “Where are you going, and what do you wish? The old moon asked the three…” This celebrates Barking’s heritage and future. The Catch was voted a London 2012 Landmark by the local community. It was even commemorated with an Olympic pin badge. So, next time you pass The Catch, remember it is a story of community, history, and hope.