Exciting project unfolding at site of former railway station

Work by renowned illustrator Alex Lucas and writer Holly Corfield Carr will form part of a project to breathe new life into a disused former station.

The idea to transform Mangotsfield Station with a series of creative installations has been some years in the making, delayed by the pandemic it is now set to become a reality this spring.

At the heart of the project is a folly that will be created at the site along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path by architects Artel 31. This will play host to the series of creative installations and activities, including participatory printmaking with artist Nick Hand, who will be bringing his printing bike.

Once a stop on the railway route between Bristol and Birmingham, Mangotsfield Station closed in 1966. The historic platform and stone archways of the original building now form a distinctive part of the railway path, opened by Sustrans in the 1980s.

The folly structure will be created in the former kitchen garden of the stationmaster’s house, while a new table will also be at the centre of the plans, using the walls of the old ticket office to form part of the seating for the table.

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Rob Elkins, the creative director at Artel 31 says: “It may have taken years to get the various permissions to put the folly in the old station but that time has allowed us a great chance to better understand the beautiful and complex history of the site and hence evolve the artistic and architectural concepts.

“That said, we are hugely excited to see the project finally taking shape and we can’t wait for people to start discovering it and the art being created around it.”

The new 12-month series of creative commissions by established and emerging artists, programmed by curator Suzanne Heath, will be developed around the folly structure and outdoor table.

The programme could include artist takeovers, classes, lectures, performances, cinema screenings and workshops.

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Suzanne says: “Mangotsfield Station is such an atmospheric site already but we are really delighted that Sustrans, Arts Council England and Emersons Green Town Council saw the potential of bringing more attention to the site through the folly and the creative programme.

“We are really excited about how it will be unfolding over the next year and hope people will use the project as an excuse to come for a bike ride, walk or wheel along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path to see it.”

Mangotsfield Folly has been created in partnership with Sustrans to encourage more people – whether they are walking, wheeling or cycling – to visit and enjoy this part of the popular route between Bristol and Bath.

The project has been funded by Arts Council England and Emersons Green Town Council, with materials for the project donated by RockPanel, BBS Cladding and Hither Garden Design.

Five new artist commissions will include:

• An artist residency by Feral Practice, exploring the area’s biodiversity with locals and culminating in a display of work towards the end of the year.
• A site-specific public commission by writer Holly Corfield Carr.
• A new mural on the folly structure by Alex Lucas.
• Participatory printmaking with Nick Hand.
• Bespoke signwriting by Eric Porter of the Straight and Narrow Sign Company.

There will also be an open call for a series of bursaries for emerging local artists, aimed at diversifying opportunities in the public realm.

New benches will be installed and a path created for the project, reconnecting the platform to the inner garden and forming a spine around which interactions with both the site and the structures are marshalled.

The project is due to start this month and run until April 2023.

Read more: Work to begin to make major changes on railway path

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