River of Wells

A commission for the City of London Corporation to create an urban intervention at Blackfriars Bridge on the River Thames. The River of Wells positively connects people to the hidden natural and historic aspects of the site. It provides a strong sense of identity to a forgotten space.

This unexpected, playful public installation is inspired by the colourful folklore of the hidden River Fleet, which joins the Thames at the site and was known as the “River of Wells”. The existing landscaping appears to transform into “well-like” structures, filled with a glistening surface. These encased panels of mirror-polished steel reflect light from high-level spotlights onto the underside of the listed bridge structure – the brightness changing with the ebb and flow of the tide. A path of “stepping stones” invites interaction and play, whilst poetry describing the myth of the Fleet Ditch is inscribed into the Corten casings of the installation. The vibrant colour palette is inspired by Monet’s depictions of the Thames in changing weather conditions.