TheIntroduction
David had a keen interest in architecture. Not only did he build and renovate many houses he collected, and sold architectural salvage. Many of the barns you see on Brick Kiln Lane, now converted, housed his vast collection of doors, bricks, window frames and interesting architectural features and oddments.
He kept some of the most interesting pieces for a use at a later date. That date never came so the Trust decided to re-construct them into some architectural features on site at the woodland.
Other projects have been suggested by the local community and trustees to improve the site and visitor experience.
ThePergola
The pillars for these were salvaged from Fakenham Maltings which had been demolished. Again Dougie Whitwood was able to construct them into the structure you see today. Coincidentally, Dougie was at the original sale of the pillars and decided not to buy them and left David to bid on the auction lot. He would never have guessed that he would be using them 30 years later.
SlateSeats
In 2005 the trust commissioned a local stone carver, Teucer Wilson, to design and construct some seating for the amphitheatre created by the mound. The spot is a secluded one, sheltered from the wind and passers by and we thought it would provide a nice area to picnic and sit and be.
Teucer Wilson trained as a stonemason and architectural carver at Weymouth College in Dorset, before working for five years at the Richard Kindersley Studio in London. He moved to Norfolk to set up his own workshop in June 2000. He works almost entirely to commission, producing a wide range of work including carving, signage, memorials, lettering and more sculptural outdoor pieces.
Teucer designed the seating to work in harmony with the mound. A central point for the curve was found and the seats and ‘table’ were designed to fit with that accordingly which explains why the ‘table’ is a little way away from the seats.
It is made from the finest quality Welsh slate. Fine rubbed to a smooth finish that is nice to touch and warms up in sunlight creating an irresistible hot seat.
TheLabyrinth
Part of David Hood’s vision for the If Not Now When woodland was that it should contain a labyrinth.
A labyrinth is not a maze; there is no way to get lost. Its single pathway leads through many twists and turns to the centre. They were once a common feature of English village greens and are now experiencing a worldwide revival as laces of reflection and meditation as well as of play and curiosity.
This labyrinth follows the pattern of a Classical or Cretan Seven Circuit path and was designed by Tchenka Jane Sunderland, one of whose labyrinth designs can be found in the cloisters of Norwich Cathedral.
TheOwl
The trust commissioned Rachael Long, based in Wreningham, to create a piece of work for the wood. We felt that her work, using industrial and agricultural scrap, was in keeping with David’s interest and use of architectural salvage.
“I am fascinated by the skeleton and musculature of animals and birds. My challenge is to try and transform redundant machine parts into a form that conveys the essence of living creatures.”
– Rachael Long
We decided upon an owl as they have roosted and flown across the field for years.
The idea was to make a kinetic sculpture for one of the gate post of the wood. Rachael worked in partnership with a skilled engineer to design the owl. A neighbour of the field, Sid, then designed and constructed the self-closing mechanism for the gate so all work in perfect harmony, most of the time.
TheSilver Surfer
There are two sculptures of the Silver Surfer in the niches of the arch. These were made in 2011 by Lesley Ash.
The Silver Surfer is a superhero featured in Marvel comics, first appearing in 1966. With his silver metallic skin, he cruises space on his surf board faster than the speed of light. Noble and tormented, the Silver Surfer treasures freedom above all else.
David identified with the Silver Surfer and even had his coffin decorated with images from the Marvel comics. Why? The quote he used to sum the character up on the Order of Service for his funeral was “…there is no sadder or more noble being than the Silver Surfer! And certainly none so alone”.
The trustees always had wanted to include the Silver Surfer somewhere in the wood, and the building of the arch with its niches provided the ideal spot.
Lesley Ash, a local sculptor, knew David well and was the obvious choice for the job. She initially modelled the figure out of clay – poised for action on the board bursting through the back of the niche. This also enabled the sculpture to be bolted to the wall. From the figure she was then able to cast it in aluminium.
MapOf Site
David was friends with Keith Thickett, an architectural draughtsman who had worked for the local authority and collected many of his fine pen and ink drawings. Keith drew up the first vision of the wood whilst David was still alive. We invited him back 10 years later to draw the information board map you see today at the entrance.
TheSign
Two new signs, traditionally signwritten by Owen Bushell now complement our information boards at the entrance to the field and woodland. Owen is the youngest son of Hilary, one of the three remaining original Trustees. He remembers David as the man who built big bonfires.
Over the years Owen has seen the site transform from a field to what it is today. Owen is now a multi-discipline craftsman specialising in traditional and ecological architectural crafts including signwriting and gilding. He is based in the Highlands of Scotland and our signs were painted in December 2023 at his Scottish home and delivered south to Norfolk by his visiting mum
TheBench
Newty, a local artist/sculptor, known for using oversized pieces of ironwork in his creations, offered to help free of charge to use some of the old and rusting agricultural machinery and came up with the idea to make a bench. Suffield farmer, Brian Almey, kindly transported the various and very heavy materials using his teleporter to Newty’s workshop.
In September 2023, the bench was completed and installed. The huge industrial shafts and grinding cogs had been transformed into a stunning, one-of-a-kind, innovative bench for all visitors to enjoy.
TheMirror
Another creation by Newty featuring a huge oven door framing a ‘hall of mirrors’ mirror securely attached to the side of the shed as were some smaller decorative cogs.
TheHenge
On 12th October 2024, the 1st Rural Roughton Mill Scout Group who come regularly to help at our workdays, rose to the challenge from the INNW trustees to create something with the remains of David Hood’s architectural salvage, which had become increasingly overgrown and buried over the 22 years since he bequeathed the site for community use. This was a mixture of old bricks, large flints, all sorts of rusty bits of metal, an intricate and very heavy piece of turning machinery, and various long cast iron metal pipes.
First they chose their site, a flat piece of ground which was piled high with cut branches and covered with brambles, near to the picnic table, had to be flattened. Then they examined and chose the materials they could use and very quickly made a plan. It started with a circular loop of flat metal 3 feet diameter which was set onto a small wall of bricks. A short post with a flat top, which will become a bird table, was put in the centre. The adults uncovered eleven 5ft cast iron posts which each took 3 people to move into place. The heavy posts were planted at a measured distance from the centre, with the essential help of friend Tony’s augur and an innovated plumbline. The huge flints filled in the circle, and now with so many materials in use the site was cleared further of piles of soil and debris. Finally a really heavy piece of old machinery was pulled into place behind the circle, for further consideration – possibly to create a bench.
It was amazing to watch their creation come about with all 13 scouts considering the project, making decisions, pitching in and literally pulling their weight – the 5 adults too! It took just about three hours and looks amazing.
The name Henge was decided spontaneously by the group – strictly speaking a henge should be prehistoric and have lintel stones across the columns. But does it really matter…?
