Carlos Trower - Rudyard, Nr Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands.
N 53° 07.310 W 002° 04.486
30U E 561917 N 5886223
The memorial to commemorate Carlos Trower and Chris Bull is wooden carved sculpture of a tightrope walker located at Rudyard Lake.
Waymark Code: WMWQP6
Location: West Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/03/2017
Views: 6
The carved sculpture has been created by award winning artist, sculptor and craftsman Anthony Hammond, from an old oak tree at the dam end of the lake near to the visitor centre. The sculpture was constructed in memory of Carlos Trower a tightrope walker who walked on a rope suspended across the lake. The trunk of the tree also features an owl and a woodpecker. (
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"In September 1864 Carlos Trower, an Afro-American tight rope walker who called himself ‘The African Blondin’ was engaged by the North Staffordshire Railway to walk across the lake on a rope suspended some hundred feet above the water. This was the first major event organised by the NSR. Special trains were run from nearby towns and the Potteries with over three thousand spectators attending." (
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'The beautiful wood carving of the tightrope walker was unveiled in April 2016. For one weekend, Rudyard Lake was reimagined as it was in the late 1800s as an excursion place for thousands of day trippers.
A series of spectaculars took place on a floating stage on the lake, alongside the incredible recreation of Carlos Trower, “The African Blondin’s” daring tightrope walk by Chris Bull, high-wire walker otherwise known as 'Bullzini' of the Bullzini Family.' Source: (
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The tree sculpture was completed in 2016. A brass plaque mounted on the tree is inscribed as follows;
'To commemorate the tight rope walks
under taken across Rudyard Lake by
Carlos Trower in 1878 and by Chris Bull
in 2016 supported by
Arts Council England,
Churnett Valley Living Landscape,
Rudyard Lake League of Friends,
Staffordshire County Council, Wild Rumpus
and Mr and Mrs Kent of Longsdon.'
Logos for the above mentioned are included below the text on the plaque.