Caerphilly: Julie Westerman unveils revamped public squares

Sculptor Julie Westerman next to her gossiping geese statue at the revamped square on Windsor Street

Thirty years ago, Caerphilly town was undergoing major changes.

In 1995, Castle Court shopping centre was built at the bottom of town, and it was also the year two public squares at the top of town were rejuvenated with public art depicting jackdaws and geese.

Fast forward three decades, and history is repeating itself.

Caerphilly 2035 is the much-heralded council vision of how Caerphilly town could look over the next decade. Regeneration projects include the new Ffos Caerffili market, a new railway and bus interchange, and a new leisure centre, as well as ambitions to transform the look and feel of the town.

Work to revamp two public squares, on Cardiff Road, have now been completed as part of the project.

The bronze geese and jackdaw sculptures found at the squares, designed by sculptor Julie Westerman 30 years ago, have now been given greater prominence following the revamp – which sees the addition of more open space, greenery, seating, and bins.

Julie has also written poems which are now featured on the new benches installed on the sites.

“I’m absolutely delighted by fact it’s lasted 30 years,” said Julie, who revisited the refreshed squares for an official unveiling on Tuesday June 17.

The geese sculptures have been lowered down to be closer to the people, while lighting has been added to make it a more welcoming place to sit in the evenings.

Julie Westerman's geese sculptures have been lowered to a more prominent position on Windsor Square — Julie Westerman’s geese sculptures have been lowered to a more prominent position on Windsor Square

Julie, a now-retired fine arts lecturer, continued: “Thirty years on it needed a refresh, and the team here have done a fantastic job redesigning this square – how bright and open and interesting it looks.

“Having the geese last here for another 30 years, down among the people, it’s fantastic, just where they should be.”

As part of the project, Julie was invited to work alongside the team at Stride Treglown – an architecture and design firm tasked by the council with the squares’ redevelopment.

“To be asked to reposition the geese and work with the team collaboratively, it was fantastic – just what an artist dreams of really,” she said.

“And then to add extra touches and to keep alive the story of what the geese are about and what the jackdaws are about, it was perfect. What an opportunity.”

Originally from Leicester, Julie spent time studying in London and Birmingham before becoming a fellow at Cardiff University, where she spent five years.

In that time, she lived in Cardiff and Monmouth, and said Wales is still “very close to my heart”.

She later moved up to Sheffield, where she still lives – and where the sculptures were made.

It was while living in Sheffield in the mid-90s that Julie was brought back to south Wales to work on the project, which she said was about “finding a narrative for the relationship between the castle and the town, and creating a new narrative for the people of Caerphilly”.

Julie Westerman watching as her sculptures are fitted on Windsor Street square — Julie Westerman watching on as her sculptures are fitted on Windsor Street square in 1995

“When I first started working on ideas for the town, I found this lovely myth about the people of Caerphilly being called Jackdaws”, explained Julie.

“I found it in a document dated 1780 or something like that. It was the nicknames that different towns had for each other, and of course the place was full of jackdaws.

“But myths get lost in time, so the opportunity to bring that story back in the snippets of text, that are now on the benches, in a in a playful and engaging way, and an intriguing way, for me is the perfect way to set it up for the next 30 years.”

From left: Julie Westerman, Caerphilly Council's Bethan Smith, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, and Hamish Munro — From left: Julie Westerman, Caerphilly Council’s Bethan Smith, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, and Hamish Munro

Caerphilly Council’s deputy leader Jamie Pritchard, who is the cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We’re grateful to Julie Westerman for returning to Caerphilly and continuing to inspire positive changes for public spaces on Windsor Street and Stockland Street.

“These bronze works have become a recognisable feature of the town centre over the last 30 years, so it is wonderful to see them preserved for the future.

“This new attraction will provide a welcoming environment for people to enjoy and marks the delivery of another successful project for the Caerphilly Town 2035 placemaking plan.”