Barras Bridge, Civic Centre, 'River God Tyne'

HER Number

10906

District

Newcastle

Site Name

Barras Bridge, Civic Centre, 'River God Tyne'

Place

Newcastle

Map Sheet

NZ26NW

Class

Gardens Parks and Urban Spaces

Site Type: Broad

Sculpture

Site Type: Specific

Statue

General Period

20TH CENTURY

Specific Period

Late 20th Century 1967 to 2000

Form of Evidence

Structure

Description

1968 by David Wynne. A bronze statue commissioned for the new Civic Centre. The 'River God Tyne' is one of eight rivers represented as sculptures of 1786 on the front of Somerset House in London. The original mask was surmounted by a basket of coals surrounded by motifs symbolising the Tyne valley. Wynne's sculpture portrays the river God in human form. He has a fountain within his outstretched hand coursing a constant flow of water across his torso. Originally patinated a dark black colour, the figure has slowly turned green and brown by the running water. LISTED GRADE 2*

Easting

424950

Northing

565000

Grid Reference

NZ424950565000

Sources

Ian Ayris, Peter Jubb, Steve Palmer and Paul Usherwood, 1996, A Guide to the Public Monuments and Sculpture of Tyne and Wear, p 76; Art On the Riverside, Grainger Town Partnership, Arts Council England, Nexus and Newcastle City Council, Public Art in Newcastle - A Guide (booklet)