The Marsh Chequer Community Art Project

The Civic Society had previously been involved in publicising and judging a competition to reuse fascia boards at a former antique shop, on the corner of Brown Street and Trinity Street.  The owners had decided to take the boards as an opportunity to mark and celebrate the Marsh chequer, which as well as those two streets is bounded by Love Lane and St Ann Street, and is the only example of a city chequer which survives intact.  The judges were delighted to find that the resulting art work fully justified the Society’s support for the competition, with the winning artist coming up with a splendid mix of features representing aspects of the chequer’s long history, assembled and painted with great skill.  The boards are both attractive as a feature seen in passing, and fascinating if someone has the time to stop and examine them in more detail.  In some cases they will hopefully encourage the passer-by to seek to find out more about the chequer’s past.  Making everyone, both residents and visitors, more aware of the city chequers, and in the process uncover elements of lost history, has been one of the Society’s aims for a long time, and being able to recognise this project with a commendation is a great pleasure.

Artist: Nancy Tolford, Salisbury