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Staines Artwalk
The Staines Art Walk highlights the variety of public art in the Staines Town Centre. It is a highly accessible and rewarding trail that offers a diverse range of art to enjoy. The map above is fully interactive and the notes below offer helpful directions, and where appropriate, photographs of what you may see.

If you are interested in learning more about anything mentioned here, check the original Artwalk! guide. Thanks to Ad Ponte's for the kind use of their own Art Walk journey photographs below.

If you would like to do this short walk, or would just like to play along at home, we have put together an online map (external link) which corresponds to the directions below.

Marker 1This is the start of the art walk, the Roman Frieze on London Road. This can either be reached either from train (Staines Station is a short walk down Kingston Road) or by car with space to park outside the station or in the neighbouring Elmsleigh Centre or Two Rivers. Image of Roman Frieze, courtesy of Adpontes

Marker 2To reach our second stop, cross the road and walk towards the junction where London Road meets Kingston Road. This is the Roman Horse statue. This statue honours and acknowledges Staines' heritage as a Roman settlement. Image of the Roman Horse, courtesy of Adpontes
Marker 3Now follow London Road towards Staines Centre and take a right at Fairfield Avenue. After about 3 minutes you should reach the Swan Upping Statue on the right.

Swan upping has a long and storied history, the annual event was originally founded to create a census and to catch Swans living on the Thames for the Monarch and later the Vintners and Dyers livery companies as well. It continues to be carried out every July, it's still a census, but it is now an opportunity to examine the health of Swans and suggest reccommendations to improve the local environment. Image of Swan Upper statue, courtesy of Adpontes

Marker 4Return back down Fairfield Avenue and turn right towards Staines Town Centre. Follow London Road until you get to another junction. Cross the road, watch out for traffic, and you should find yourself in the pedestrianised area of Staines Town Centre.

As you may have noticed, there are two '4's on the map. At either end of the pedestrianised area are two 'gateway' plinths, each home to a panel of the Small Mosaic. These highlight the history of the town, specifically the town centre.
 Image of Small Mosaic

Marker 5Nearby is the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain. Originally constructed in 1890s, and then moved to Moor Lane in the 1950s this drinking fountain was recently relocated to the Staines Town Centre. The mosaic represents the life giving waters that surround Staines. Image of the drinking fountain, courtesy of Adpontes

Marker 6If you head further into the town centre, in front of the Elmsleigh Centre is the Mosaic Burrough Arms. The mosaic was unveiled as the centre piece for recently refurbished Staines Town Centre and is often the site of buskers and musicians. Image of the Mosaic Borough Arms, courtesy of Adpontes

The Swan in the centre represents the Thames, the swords suggest the two former Middlesex authorities, and the two sprigs of Oak and Acorns are borrowed from Surrey County Council's coat of arms.

Marker 7Turn around and head through Norris road towards Two Rivers to see this brick carving which represents the River Thames. Image of a brick carving, courtesy of Adpontes
Marker 8If you keep following Norris Road into Two Rivers, you will find the statue 'Time Continuum'. This statue is meant to symbolise the vitality of the area in the new millennium, and takes the form of a simple sundial. At noon GMT, it casts a shadow directly north. Image of Time Continuum statue, courtesy of Adpontes
Marker 9Now turn left and follow the roofed pavements until you find the statues on the left. 'Water Sprites' is symbolic of the convergance of ancient water ways at the location. Image of Water Sprites statue, courtesy of Adpontes
Marker 10If you keep follow the roofed pavement up to the cinema, you will find 'Sweeps Ditch Stone'. Sweeps Ditch was one of three mill streams that flow through the town, which also derives from the Colne and was a southern boundary. The main stone and 15 round plaques found throughout the Two Rivers car park indicate the original route of the ditch. Image of Sweeps Ditch stone, courtesy of Adpontes
Marker 11Turn back the way you came and take the first turning on the right into Tilly's Lane and look up to see 'Water Nymphs'. This structure reflects the commonly held Roman belief that spirits lived in all rivers and waterways, allegedly providing prosperity to the area. Image of Water Nymphs, courtesy of Adpontes
Marker 12Keep following Tilly's Lane and when you reach the corner, look up to find this carving. The two ladies pouring water from the jugs represent the Colne and Wraysbury rivers whilst the old man symbolises the River Thames. Image of Tilly's Lane brick carving, courtesy of Adpontes
Marker 13Keep moving into the pedestrianised area and take a slight right and you'll find the statue 'Release Every Pattern'. This statue commemorates the Staines' reputation as a once world leader in the manufacture and distribution of Linoleum. The 'Lineoleum Manufacturing Company' (or 'Staines Lino' as it was colloquially refferred to) was a worldwide brand associated with the material and was a large employer in the area. The site of the original factory is now the site of the Two Rivers Retail Park. Image of 'Release Every Pattern', courtesy of Adpontes

The statue was designed with a poem that runs along the curved outline of the Linoleum. To read it you must get physically involved, which provokes a response and debate.

Marker 14Now head towards Debenhams and outside the pedestrian zone. As you leave, you may notice two more gateway plinths marking the end of the area. These plinths have two more Small Mosaics, similar to those at stop number '4'. Image of dove carving, courtesy of Adpontes
Cross the road at Debenhams and turn left down Thames Street. Follow it until you find Staines Library and Museum on your left and the memorial gardens on your right. If you enter the gardens you will find a carving of a dove. The 'Dove of Peace' commemorates peace and looks out over the Memorial Gardens.

Marker 15Follow the path in the memorial gardens to the river, and you will be rewarded with the 'Origami Swans'. This sculpture is constructed from folded steel, and reflects the sparkling river below. The Swans themselves represent the Swans in the coat of arms as well as the River Thames itself. Image of Origami Swans, courtesy of Adpontes

Marker 16Turning right and following the river will lead you to Market Square, the entrance to which is marked by the 'Swan Arches'. Image of the Swan Arches, courtey of Adpontes
Marker 17Enter Market Square and follow it right until you reach the 'Blue Anchor Pub' or 'The Boundary'. Eagle eyed followers may notice the 5 false windows painted onto the wall where the real windows were bricked up to avoid the Window Tax from the 15th century until the 19th century. Image of the Boundary and fake windows, courtesy of Adpontes
Marker 18Back into Market Square proper, you will find two local landmarks. The first is the Was.r Memorial, commemorating those who gave their lives in World War One. Remembrance Day services are still held here annually and it now honours British Service Personnel from all armed force

Opposite is the Town Hall, previously the location of Spelthorne Borough Council, it is now home to a trendy bar. It was also used as a location in the 'Gandhi' and 'Ali G' films.
 Image of war memorial, courtesy of Adpontes

Marker 19From here you should be able to see the top of the Brewery Tower in Church Street. The 19th Century decorated ironwork on top is authentic and supports a flagpole.

Marker 20Head back into the memorial garden and turn right to follow the river north. Just before the Staines Bridge is a flight of stairs leading up the River Guardian. This statue is carved out of Portland limestone and it is a stylised representation of a heron. It represents the river and is a benign marker for river traffic and pedestrians.

Marker 21If you keep following the River Thames north beyond the bridge, you will find an intricate mosaic facing the river. This decorative tiling is part of Hanover House.