Get the look….

Love this straw boater-balaclava-goggles combo.  It’s not a reaction to this week’s  confusing  weather conditions, but sculptor Carole Hodgson at work on a plaque for Farnham Police Station, J Harrison, County Architect, 1963.  The building  has three of these; we know who two of the artists were and are hoping to track down the third

Born in South London in 1940, Hodgson’s later work explored all sorts of materials, including  cellulose fibre mixed with iron.   I love the fact that the catalogue I have of her work notes that she studied under  Freda Skinner (Head of Sculpture at Wimbledon, and carver of The Risen Christ in Glory at one of my favourite churches, St Paul’s Lorrimore Square) and comments:  “she had been taught mainly by women, giving her confidence in the male-dominated world of sculpture”.   Her panel is the one with sheep.

Rachel Fenner (then Brown) carved the panel with deer, and called our office to explain that this shows Sir William of Loseley,  Constable of Farnham,  handing over hunting rights to Robert Horne, Bishop of Winchester, on 25 September 1575.  She pointed out that the photos Hodgson had sent us were probably taken in the yard  at Wimbledon School of Art and show her  in the background roughing out her panel with a Kango hammer — it was the first time she had used one.

A recent application to demolish the Police Station was refused consent, and we are working to save at least the panels.