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The Seats
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‘William’ is the name given to each of the identical benches commissioned to encourage visitors to stop and contemplate the surrounding area. Mary and Peter give all their furniture names, and these are carefully chosen in response to the character or "feel" of a piece. These ones have simple rounded forms with flattened upper surfaces and are intended to seat one person comfortably, two snugly. Spaced wide apart in a gentle arc, they allow visitors to enjoy the view without feeling crowded by others.
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Mary and Peter wanted the seats to look natural in the landscape, and based their designs on the shapes and colours that they found there. "Our intention is that they would be discovered by passers by rather than shouting out "I’m here" to those in the distance." The rounded forms were inspired by the rolling hills, stones, boulders and by clumps of heather. Made from two halves cast in cement and joined together, they also look like some kind of bean or pod. The greyish purple colour was chosen for its similarity to the hillside heather and to the pinkish granite found locally.
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But, as well as reflecting nature, these seats are first and foremost practical objects. They have been designed to withstand the forces of nature and the action of vandals. They have no corners or exposed details and are securely fixed to concrete blocks set deep within the ground.
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