The Cornerstone: A Quirky Artwork In Bermondsey

Bermondsey is always an area I enjoy exploring. It is bursting with history and heritage, particularly with its array of wonderful old Victorian converted warehouse buildings. Walk down bustling Bermondsey Street and, at the edge of Tanner Street Park, something unusual may catch your eye. 

This brilliantly quirky artwork is called ‘the Cornerstone’ and speaks of both the community spirit in the area and the glorious chaos of London. 

The Cornerstone 

The artwork is made up of a series of individual hand-carved stone blocks. The blocks were created by around 100 children and adults from the nearby Whites Grounds Estates and the wider community in public workshops, led by the local artist Austin Emery. 

The idea was to create a piece of living art heritage and a local landmark: a ‘cornerstone’, that will become a part of the history of the area. 

Funding was raised on Spacehive and cash injections were given by the Mayor of London and Southwark Council. The project got under way in 2019 and was finished, assembled and put in place in 2020. 

The individual blocks are arranged into 10 towers, each weighing over a ton, which were then combined into a totemic monument.

It is great fun spotting the individual elements and pondering the story or motivation behind each. Peppa pig even makes an appearance!

To further embed the artwork into the history of Bermondsey and London, stone fragments from Southwark Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament are incorporated, as well as bone fragments found on the foreshore of the Thames. 

Bermondsey’s history is inextricably linked to the river, through trade and industry, so it is great to see this represented.

Click here to watch a video about how the piece was put together.

The Cornerstone is the sister artwork of a piece called ‘the Shared’ created in 2014. The Shared was also by Austin Emery and locals and can be found around the corner on the Tyers Estate.

A Symbol Of London

Overall I think it is great: unashamedly characterful and organic. In some ways, with its nooks and crannies, eccentricities and slightly chaotic assemblage, it represents London and its history. The past and present are all jumbled in together to create something that will last through the ages. 

The Spacehive page states: ‘This sculpture will exist through time beyond our lives into the future. The opportunity to feel connected to the creation and realisation of this heritage gives participants and pledge supporters a rare and profound chance to truly make their mark on London, ‘set in stone’.’

Thank you for reading, more of London’s quirky sights below!