Object Details | Public Sculptures of Sussex

Two decorative plaques

Browse information by:
Location
Makers
General Information
Classification
Object Parts
Object Condition
History
References
Photographs

Location

Street:	Stoke Abbott Road
Town:	Worthing
Parish:	Worthing
Council:	Adur District Council
County:	West Sussex
Postcode:	BN111HE
	Location on Google Map
Object setting:	Inside building
Access is:	Public
Location note:	On walls to right and left of foyer of the Assemlby Hall
In the AZ book:	West Sussex
Page:	171
Grid reference:	H2
	The A-Z books used are A-Z East Sussex and A-Z West Sussex (Editions 1A 2005). Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd. Sevenoaks.
back to top

Makers

Name :	Laurence Henderson Bradshaw
Role:	Sculptor
back to top

General Information

Construction period:	1931-2
Work is:	Extant
Owner custodian:	Worthing Borough Council
Description:	1) round relief on wave- shaped base depicting male figure standing astride two fishes holding a vessels in each hand, one filled with seashells , the other seaweed 2) round relief on wave- shaped base depicting male figure standing astride two fishes , arms outstretched against an arc of foliage
Iconographical description:	There is some similarity to Worthing Borough’s coat of arms, which has a shield depicting three mackerel on stylised waves, surmounted by a cornucopia and the figure of Hygieia, Greek goddess of health, with a motto that translates as ‘From the land plenty and from the sea health'.
back to top

Classification

Categories:	Sculptural, Architectural
Object type1:	Relief
Object type2:	Shaft
Subject type1:	Figurative
Subject subtype1:	Standing
Subject type2:	Symbolic
Subject subtype1:	Standing
back to top

Object Parts

Part 1:	Reliefs (x2)
Material:	Plaster, painted two tones of blue, white, silver
Height (cm):	140
Width (cm):	150
back to top

Object Condition

Overall condition:	Good
Risk assessment:	No known risk
Condition 1 of type:	Surface
More details:	Appear to have been painted in four colours some time after installation (no evidence of colouring in archive photographs; see letter from architect, under History
Date of on-site inspection:	13/10/2008
back to top

Laurence Bradshaw archive, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds; BR/P1 4 photos dated 1931-2
Laurence Henderson Bradshaw was born in April 1899 at Wallasey. He was a sculptor, engraver and painter. Bradshaw was involved with the British Soviet Friendship Society, the Royal Society of British Sculptors, and was elected Master of the Art Workers Guild, 1958. He was the official war artist for the Norwegian government in World War Two and was rewarded for his contribution to the arts with a civil list pension from the British government. Laurence Bradshaw’s major, but also the most controversial work, is the Karl Marx Memorial of 1956. He also made many portrait busts and carried out public commissions, particularly in conjunction with architects. His designs for theatre scenery are housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The material in the archive was presented by Mrs Eileen Bradshaw, Lawrence Bradshaw’s widow, in October 1994. There have been a number of small additions to the archive up to August 1995, including the Karl Marx Memorial maquette. The archive now includes correspondence, drawings, photographs, newspaper cuttings, and other printed material relating to his work.

Architect of Worthing Town Hall and Assembly Hall (erected1933-4) was Charles Cowles Voysey (1889-1981), with detailing by John Brandon-Jones http://eng.archinform.net/arch/7109.htm
Bradshaw also worked with Voysey on Cambridge Guild Hall (see Bradshaw archive)

Bradshaw archive, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds
Fawn Cuttings Book no. 13
53/1994/A/1/1
Letter dated 27th July 1934 from James Longley & Co Ltd, Builders and Contractors, Steam Joinery Works, Crawley, Sussex
Contract for Worthing, on account £50
Cheque on account to LB 33St Peter’s Square, London W6

53/1994/A/1/3
Letter dated 8th March 1933 (?) from C. Cowles- Voysey FRIBA Architect, 14 Grays Inn Sq., London WC1
Dear Bradshaw
Assembly Hall, Worthing
The plaques in the foyer do not quite tone with the walls. I think the colour wants changing. Would you look at this and let me know what you think.’

Bradshaw also designed incised murals for the Assembly Hall dining room (present day bar) which have been painted over:
Fawn Cuttings Book no. 13
53/1994/A/1/3
Letter dated 8th March 1933 (?) from C. Cowles- Voysey FRIBA Architect, 14 Grays Inn Sq., London WC1
Dear Bradshaw
Assembly Hall, Worthing
I understand that the Buffet at the above will be ready for you to paint the red lines on Monday, the 18th instant. I should be grateful if you would carry this out a soon as you possibly can after this date.
BR/P3
61 photo interior with incised relief of merman/ seaside scene-
K72 photo ‘Worthing Town Hall (sic) dining room Laurence Bradshaw FRBS’ (written on back)
G4 ‘Worthing Town Hall dining room carved and incised mural by Laurence Bradshaw FRBS’
Listing details reference ‘a room with Art Deco style reliefs with a marine theme star-shaped light fittings.’ ‘Listed Buildings in Worthing’ Worthing Borough Council www.worthing .gov.uk/cgi-bin/htm 22/11/07

Bradshaw also appears to have provided been two bronze bas reliefs which have subsequently disappeared:
53/1994/A/1/2 Letter dated 28th July 1934 from James Longley
Contract Assembly Hall Worthing ‘We have pleasure in confirming the acceptance of your estimate to Mr Voysey dated July 25th for the supply of two bronze bas-reliefs 5ft x 4ft for the sum of £135.’
53/1994/A/1/4
Letter dated March 21st 1935 from Norman Longley- payment to LB for Worthing Assembly Hall:
3 Empire stone heads North Elevation £120
Buffet decorations (Mr Voysey’s order) £250
Mr Voysey’s order for 2 bronze bas-reliefs £135

Sources:
Laurence Bradshaw archive, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds; BR/P1 4 photos dated 1931-2
Interview with Mrs Eileen Bradshaw, Braintree, Essex 4.10.08
Lindey, Christine, ‘The Man who Moulded Marx’ The Morning Star, 4 April 2007, p.9