When you visit Wells one of the first things you see as you look out onto the harbour is the horse sculpture. This appears to be a reference point for the tides which slowly cover and reveal the horse. In fact, the sculpture was inspired by the horses that used to pull lifeboats out across the sands to rescue boats in trouble. The Lifeboat Horse sonic postcard explores what the horse means to the town, to its sculptor, Rachael Long, and to visitors. The team recorded the sounds of the harbour and Rachael’s workshop, and interviewed both Rachael and the Harbour Master, Robert Smith MBE. All these recordings come together in this sonic postcard. The horse is removed for the Winter and when it is put back in the Spring it often seems slightly rotated. Does this reflect the passing of time and tide? Has the horse moved since we were here last year?
Chris Bonfiglioli and Kim Hammond
Return to Sounding Out Wells
Credits
With thanks to our speakers, (in order of appearance):
Rachael Long: Sculptor – Lifeboat Horse, Wells-next-the-Sea
Kim Hammond: Research Associate, The Open University, Sounding out Wells
Robert Smith MBE: The Harbour Master, Wells-next-the-Sea