How did a statue of an 18th century French murderess reach Swindon?
Ink Heritage Focus: 'Free the Town Hall One' - or at least make her more visible
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The story of one of Swindon’s most enigmatic artworks
By local historian and author Angela Atkinson
The other week I attended an art exhibition in Swindon Town Hall – a terrific building that we almost didn’t retain. Years ago, when the then council were planning the Theatre Square/Wyvern theatre development, they had designs on demolishing it.
Thank goodness that the architects, Casson/Condor, dissuaded them from that course of action!
While I’m obvs glad this wonderful, Grade II listed, Brightwen Binyon building is used by Swindon Dance, I’m also sad that it’s not open for the public to appreciate one or two interesting things in its interior.
For instance, in the dance studio there’s a rather wonderful mural called Mother Earth. It’s the work of Swindon-born artist and sculptor Carleton Attwood (1908-1985) – he who also created The Watchers over in Toothill, the Golden Lion that lives in the town centre and a full-length bronze of Swindon Town footballing wizard Harold Fleming that lives in the foyer of the County Ground. Amongst other things.
Before I move on, I must mention the railings outside the town hall – have you ever noticed them? Properly I mean. They’re a work of art – find out more about them here.
A marbleous story
Imprisoned in the foyer of the town hall, away from public gaze, is a marble statue of one Charlotte Corday. For the unaware, Corday is famed for, in 1793, murdering Jean Paul Marat– a journalist and leader of the radical Montagnard faction during the French Revolution.
He was assassinated while in his bath by Charlotte Corday – a young Girondin conservative – aka The Angel of Assassination.