Sculpture Trail: The Brinker
The Brinker at Magor Marsh Nature Reserve.
The Brinker celebrates the role of ordinary people in the creation of the Level’s landscape.
In the Level’s own unique lingo, a ‘brinker’ is a person who owns land on one side of a reen, wall or pill and is responsible for its maintenance. Traditionally, a brinker would use a scythe to clear vegetation to keep waterways open and prevent flooding.
Both men and women are listed as brinkers in the Court of Sewers records, held at Gwent Archives. Our figure is inspired by Anne Williams (died 1723), who owned land next to Monk’s Ditch in Whitson and Clift Reen in Goldcliff.
The sculpture stands approximately 2.5m high and is built on a steel framework using steamed white and brown willow to provide colour and texture. Two nesting sites are built into the sculpture’s pockets on either side. She stands alongside one of the reens at Magor Marsh Nature Reserve, resting on her scythe.
The Brinker was designed and built by Sarah Hatton and Melanie Bastier.
Gallery
The Brinker had a starring role in a recent broadcast of BBC 1’s Countryfile programme, where the show’s presenter, Matt Baker, was filmed alongside sculptors Sarah Hatton and Melanie Bastier.
Where is it?
Concept drawing of the ‘Brinker’.
‘The Brinker’ sculpture has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
