Charlton Hayes: What was saved, what was lost
Artist(s): Kelvyn Lawrence Smith, aka Mr Smith
Client: MASS Concrete
Location: Charlton Hayes, South Gloucestershire
Date: 2025
This series of concrete monoliths is an artwork created by Kelvyn Laurence Smith for Charlton Hayes.
Carefully positioned along the route of a former ancient woodland path, they are designed to give a nod to the standing stones and old gate markers found in the area.
Human-sized, they represent different people and families from both the past and present who have walked this land.
Each monolith is pre-cast with words from a short story called What Was Saved, What Was Lost by Adam Marek.
The story, written for this project, captures memories and conversations from people who have lived and passed through Charlton Hayes over the years; families and servicemen. A Second World War base and training camp was located on the site. At their centre stands a derelict WWII pillbox.
The designs were first created by hand in a letterpress workshop and later cast into the concrete.