War Horse sculpture from NDR roundabouts going up for sale

The sculpture, standing more than 10ft tall and weighing nearly a tonne, was created by the artist Damian O’Connor from Taverham.

It would appear unexpectedly on roundabouts across the county, leaving motorists intrigued.

The wooden horse spotted on an NDR roundabout in 2017 (Image: Newsquest)

Norfolk County Council ordered Mr O’Connor to stop putting the horse on roundabouts for safety reasons in 2017 and warned he could face possible enforcement action if he did not comply.

After working with the council, the structure made of steel, wood and reeds continued to be spotted on several roads and roundabouts off the NDR near Norwich.

The artist revealed that he was approached many times by police when moving the structure, including an incident in 2019 where he complained about the officer’s actions.

The horse was a regular feature on roads around Norwich (Image: Newsquest)

“I like to believe that when people see it, they get a feeling about it,” Mr O’Connor said at the time.

“Whether that is memories of their grandfather using horses to plough fields or another feeling.

“Although this is art, it is also similar to real horses in the fact that it moves and keeps moving.”

The sculpture on a roundabout on the NDR (Image: Newsquest)

The artist decided not to name the sculpture, encouraging the public to give it personal significance, transforming it into “a shared symbol rather than a fixed narrative”.

On Saturday, the horse will go on sale at Mander Auctioneers in Sudbury after Mr O’Connor decided to retire due to health reasons.

A spokesman for Mander Auctioneers said: “Its sale presents a rare opportunity to acquire a major outdoor artwork with proven public impact, cultural resonance and scale suitable for institutional display, private land or prominent public settings.”

The sculpture symbolises the substantial contribution heavy horses have made to human history for thousands of years, from war to agriculture, transport and trade.