| The Quantum Leap | |
|---|---|
 The Quantum Leap | |
| Artist | Pearce & Lal |
| Year | 2009 |
| 52°42′36″N2°45′25″W / 52.709911°N 2.756868°W | |
The Quantum Leap is a sculpture situated next to the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. It was created to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of evolutionist Charles Darwin, who was born in the town in 1809. The sculpture was unveiled on 8 October 2009 by Randal Keynes, a great-great-grandson of Darwin. [1]
The Quantum Leap is the main point of a 'Geo-Garden', converted from Mardol Quay Gardens on the town centre bank of the Severn. In addition to Darwin himself, it celebrates Shropshire's geological diversity due to the county containing 10 of the 12 geological periods. Darwin interested himself in geology during his Shropshire childhood. [2]
The sculpture consists of 59 segments measuring 12 metres (40 feet) in height, 17.5 metres (57 feet) in length, and weighs more than 113 tonnes, excluding foundations and piles. [1] The work is abstract, and due to its Darwinian theme is commonly interpreted as representing dinosaur bones, DNA, or a backbone. [3] In local media, often in a negative sense, it has been nicknamed 'The Slinky' due to its perceived similarity to the coiled-wire toy. [4]
It was designed by Sutton Coldfield-based [5] architectural firm Pearce & Lal, who revealed their design in July 2008. Architect Ranbir Lal, of Pearce & Lal, stated "It is a privilege to work on a memorial to Charles Darwin. We hope that the sculpture we have designed in his memory expresses the vitality and range of his ideas, and brings them alive to the people of modern-day Shrewsbury." [3]
Each of the blades of the sculpture were made by Histon Concrete Products, based in Ely, Cambridgeshire. [2]
Funding to the sculpture from taxes was initially taken from the inhabitants of the Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council, but structural changes in English local government put into effect on 1 April 2009 abolished the borough and created the larger Shropshire Council area. [6]
The sculpture's final total cost was revealed as £450,000 at the time of the sculpture's unveiling. [1] The original cost to the taxpayer was expected to be around £200,000 but in May 2009 a change in the supporting structure was required when the contractors found themselves unable to get the frame on site because of a tree root protection area. [7] Additional work was required in August 2009, when it was found that one of the sculpture's pieces was reportedly out by around 18 inches. [7] The public cost eventually rose to around £308,000 by September 2009. [7]
In November 2012 it was revealed that the final cost of the sculpture exceeded £1 million, and that the council had rejected the opportunity to pay just £600,000 to contractors Alun Griffiths, on the advice of construction solicitors Hill International. Hill International had expected a final cost of around £200,000. Alun Griffiths were paid £860,000 for their contracting, with Hill International making £100,000. [4]
Councillor Steve Charmley (Conservative), the council's cabinet member who inherited responsibility for the sculpture, stated "There won't be another Quantum Leap. In the financial climate we are in, there is no way we are going to be building a concrete structure on the river bank in the future". George Candler, the council's area director, revealed that all of the Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council staff who were responsible for the sculpture had left their posts on the borough's abolition or soon after. [4]
Jon Tandy, a Labour councillor, stated his disapproval that the sculpture had cost more than the much larger and renowned £800,000 Angel of the North near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, stating "It is unbelievable. Even the Angel of the North cost less. It [The Quantum Leap] should never have been built. I realised, and 99% of the general population realised, that we were wasting money". [8]
The River Severn, at 220 miles (354 km) long, is the longest river in Great Britain. It is also the river with the most voluminous flow of water by far in all of England and Wales, with an average flow rate of 107 m3/s (3,800 cu ft/s) at Apperley, Gloucestershire. It rises in the Cambrian Mountains in mid Wales, at an altitude of 2,001 feet (610 m), on the Plynlimon massif, which lies close to the Ceredigion/Powys border near Llanidloes. The river then flows through Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. The county towns of Shrewsbury, Worcester and Gloucester lie on its course.
Shropshire is a ceremonial county in the West Midlands of England, on the Welsh border. It is bordered by Wrexham County Borough and Cheshire to the north, Staffordshire to the east, Worcestershire to the south-east, Herefordshire to the south and Powys to the west. The largest settlement is Telford, and Shrewsbury is the county town.
Shrewsbury and Atcham was a local government district with borough status in Shropshire, England, between 1974 and 2009.
North Shropshire was a local government district in Shropshire, England from 1974 to 2009. The district council was based at Edinburgh House in Wem. Other settlements included the towns of Ellesmere, Market Drayton and Whitchurch, as well as the large villages of Shawbury and Baschurch. The district bordered onto Wales, Cheshire and Staffordshire as well as the Shropshire districts of Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Atcham and the unitary Telford and Wrekin.
The Wrekin is a hill in east Shropshire, England. It is located some five miles (8 km) west of Telford, on the border between the unitary authorities of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. Rising above the Shropshire Plain to a height of 407 metres (1,335 ft) above sea level, it is a prominent and well-known landmark, signalling the entrance to Shropshire for travellers westbound on the M54 motorway. The Wrekin is contained within the northern salient of the Shropshire Hills AONB. The hill is popular with walkers and tourists and offers good views of Shropshire. It can be seen well into Staffordshire and the Black Country, and even as far as the Beetham Tower in Manchester, Winter Hill in Lancashire and Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire.
Atcham is a village, ecclesiastical parish and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies on the B4380, 5 miles south-east of Shrewsbury. The River Severn flows round the village. To the south is the village of Cross Houses and to the north-west the hamlet of Emstrey.
Condover is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It is about 5 miles (8 km) south of the county town of Shrewsbury, and just east of the A49. The Cound Brook flows through the village on its way from the Stretton Hills to a confluence with the River Severn. Condover is near to the villages of Dorrington, Bayston Hill and Berrington. The population of the Condover parish was estimated as 1,972 for 2008, of which an estimated 659 live in the village of Condover itself. The actual population measured at the 2011 census had fallen to 1,957.
Frankwell is a district of the town of Shrewsbury, in Shropshire, England. It lies adjacent to the River Severn, to the northwest of the town centre, and is one of Shrewsbury's oldest suburbs. The main road running through the area is also called Frankwell.
All Stretton is a village and a now separate civil parish in Shropshire, England. Much of it is covered by a Conservation Area.
Shrewsbury and Atcham is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2005 by Daniel Kawczynski, a Conservative.
The town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England, has a history that extends back at least as far as the year 901, but it could have been first settled earlier. During the early Middle Ages, the town was a centre of the wool trade, and this was a peak in its importance. During the Industrial Revolution, comparatively little development took place in the town, although it did serve as a significant railway town after the development of rail transport in the area. The town today retains much of its historic architecture.
The English Bridge is a masonry arch viaduct, crossing the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The present bridge is a 1926 rebuilding and widening of John Gwynn's design, completed in 1774. A bridge is known to have stood at this spot since at least Norman times. Historically, it was known as the "Stone Bridge". It is a Grade II* listed building.
The Shrewsbury Business Park is a commercial development on the outskirts of Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Construction commenced in late 2001 on the 30-acre (120,000 m2), £25 million site, and is still ongoing. Almost 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m2) of business premises have been delivered, largely attributed to Phase One of the scheme. Over 1,000 people are based there.
Kingsland Bridge is a privately owned toll bridge, spanning the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. It is located near Shrewsbury School and the cost for cars to cross is 20p. It is a Grade II listed building.
The geographical term Severnside refers to an area adjoining or straddling the River Severn or its estuary in Great Britain.
Shrewsbury Library is housed in a Grade I listed building situated on Castle Gates near Shrewsbury Castle. The site was the home of Shrewsbury School from 1550 until 1882. The buildings were handed over to the town in 1882 and a free library and museum were opened by the Corporation of Shrewsbury utilizing the building in 1885. The library was moved temporarily to Raven Meadows in 1976 while the site on Castle Gates underwent extensive restorations. The library was re-opened in 1983 by Princess Margaret.
Shrewsbury is a market town, civil parish and the county town of Shropshire, England, on the River Severn, 150 miles (240 km) north-west of London. At the 2021 census, the parish had a population of 76,782.
Mardol is an historic street in Shrewsbury, Shropshire with a variety of architectural styles, ranging from Tudor timber-framed buildings to more modern constructs. It runs from the site of the St George's Bridge up to the town centre, a place called Mardol Head.
Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery was founded in 1835 as the Museum of the Shropshire and North Wales Natural History and Antiquarian Society Society in Dogpole, Shrewsbury, England. In 1853 the collections were moved to Vaughan's Mansion on College Hill, which became known as the Shropshire and North Wales Museum. After 160 years and two subsequent homes the museum returned to Vaughan's Mansion and the Music Hall Complex after a major redevelopment of the site.
The town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire, England has historically been affected by flooding of the River Severn. The Frankwell area, has been particularly affected, but flood defence measures have largely been effective in the area.
 Buildings and structures in Shrewsbury | |
|---|---|
| Civic | |
| Railway stations | |
| Educational | |
| Hospitals | |
| Churches | |
| Pubs | |
| Complexes | |
| Sports venues | |
| Historic | |
| Monuments | |
| Bridges | |
52°42′35.6796″N2°45′24.7248″W / 52.709911000°N 2.756868000°W
