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Posted by Editor on 4th March 2010 at 04:27 PM
What the hell is that....
by Tony Flynn

The next time you travel along Broad Street in Salford try and take time to have a look at a piece of modern sculpture which has been there since 1966 and has caused some controversy over the years, not least from a member of the Royal Family.

I am talking about the three stone carvings on the forecourt of the Allerton Building, Salford University at the junction of Fredrick Road, a local landmark and meeting place for many a student over the years.

The untitled statues are the work of London artist William Mitchell who was commisioned by Salford University to create the works of art for the new Salford Technical College as it was then known.

The statues are merely ornamental and have no special significance, but simply add to the artistic and academic atmosphere of the building.

The three figures are in a Mayan or Aztec style inset with mosaics, each standing 15 foot high, weigh 4 - 5 tons and cost then, £1,000 each. Interestingly enough each statue is positioned so that the evening and morning sunlight falls directly on their faces.

They were unveiled in September 1966, the artist William Mitchell was in fine humour when he told the press at the unveiling, "I don't give a hoot if you don't like them, just as long as you look at them".

The Salford Technical College was opened in June 1967 by Prince Phillip, a man not known for his tact or diplomacy, when he saw the statues said, "What the hell is that?" to the Mayor of Salford Alderman Edwin Clark who replied, "It is a remarkable piece of modern art".

I spoke to several students at the University about the statues, quite rightly they knew little of William Mitchell or what the statues represented but they were all in agreement that they brightened the forecourt up and were popular with other students.

Personally I like them, they remind me of the Troika style pottery and are as they say "aesthetically pleasing" which can be translated as I like them and I hope they stay there for many more years to come.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Breeze Block  18th February 2011
Really interesting story. William Mitchell has designed so many works of art that we in Salford are lucky to have these sculptures in our City, they must hold so many memories for students who attended the college.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  18th November 2010
Comment by Mike H At the time I had no idea who had put them there or why, but many times when the student union bar closed and no longer served me beer I used to climb to the top of one of them for a quiet cigarette. Very few people would climb up there with me and those that did were also only doing it for the isolation so they didn't want to talk anyway. A very peaceful 10 or 15 minutes before the long walk home to Lower Kersal. Long may they remain in their quiet isolation and long may the students of Salford sit atop their comfortable abodes. (Only those who have climbed them know how comfortable Mr Mitchell made them! Enjoy....

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  25th July 2010
Dear Tony - The pavement was important re the positioning of the figures as they were etched to resemble a chess board - and the figures placed not only according to the light which shone on the 'faces' at a particular time of day but were also related to the patterns carved into the pavings. I havn't seen the figures for some time so don't know if the paving pattern still exists. William Mitchell

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by Guest  4th March 2010
Lovely statues, hope they stay for a long time. Interesting to hear the sculptor's views, he sounds a bit of a card, whereas Phillip was his usual idiotic self, nice camera work as well, is summer coming?.

Report as offensive or innapropriate Comment by allan hayward ( member )  4th March 2010
I went to "Tech" there when it opened. I had forgotten about the statues. A welcome memory.

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