Elmbridge Borough Council has commissioned artist Stuart Melrose to produce a new public art installation at the Walton Court Gardens development. The modern scheme is a joint venture by developer Crest Nicholson and housing association A2Dominion and is located on the former Birds Eye Headquarters site, a site rich in local history.
Public art project background
Frozen food giant Birdseye had its headquarters built in Walton in 1963. The building was at the forefront of the modern architecture of the time with its crisp geometric forms and silver-blue colours. It included two internal courtyards, one of which contained concrete menhirs by the Scottish born artist sculptor Alan Collins arranged around rectangular pools that featured live penguins, flamingos and an alligator.
A standalone metal sculpture depicting rising birds by the artist John McCarthy stood next to a pool at the entrance. In 2000, a memorial was established on the site for Flight Sergeant Charles Sydney who was killed on 27 September 1940 when his Spitfire was shot down in the Battle of Britain and…
