New Bridgwater sculpture celebrates Romany community

A life-size steel horse sculpture has been unveiled to recognise a town’s connection to Romany people and remember a young boy.

The Horse for Bridgwater sculpture was unveiled at the opening of the town’s annual fair, and aims to recognise the event’s cultural history.

Romany artist Jake Bowers said the horse was about taking Gypsy history and making it “visible through sculpture”.

He said the piece remembers Jessie Smith, a seven-year-old Romany boy who died in a caravan accident on the way to Bridgwater Fair in 1950.

“His older sister is my cousin,” Mr Bowers added.

“When I was looking for places to remember Gypsy history, we decided we should remember little Jessie.”

Parts of the steel horse, which sits at the entrance to the fair’s field, were made at last year’s event with the help of visitors at a steel forge, and is funded by Romany Gypsy-led not-for-profit organisation Drive 2 Survive.

Mr Bowers said the fair had always been a key event in the local Romany community’s calendar.

“They would come together to meet people, to see their friends and family, buy and sell horses,” Mr Bowers said.

Scott O’Hara from Seed Sedgemoor, said the fair and livestock markets have taken place on the same site for more than 600 years.

“Jake’s sculpture is a tribute to that story of continuous meeting of community, tradition and celebration,” he added.

“It is a new landmark that connects the town’s past with the people who keep it alive today.”

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