Gallic Flair on Milford Seafront

Being a fluent French speaker (my own version) and on occasions a temporary honorary resident of Deauville in Normandy, I was delighted to see the local council has bought some Gallic flair to Milford on Sea.

click image to enlarge

If you have been fortunate enough to visit Beaune, the capital of Burgundy wine, you may also have seen the magnificent multicoloured roofs of the Hospices de Beaune. Built in 1443, this medieval building has impressive deep roofs covered in glazed multicoloured tiles arranged in decorative geometric patterns. 

Having been constructed so long ago, my French brothers did the best they could with the materials, tools and technology they had to hand at the time.

Sadly, after the Valentine's Night Storm in February this year, the seafront at Milford on Sea remains looking like a warzone. For anyone old enough, it must bring back memories of the barbed wire beach defences during WW2.

Whilst the future of Milford on Sea Zoo remains in doubt (click here to read), and the replacement of the beach huts continues with endless debates and discussions, some progress has at least been made.

Having been severely damaged in the storm, the Seafront Shelter has now been restored for people to take in the magnificent views through the mass of fencing and out across to The Needles.

click image to enlarge

The Seafront Shelter now boasts its own decorative geometric patterns to rival the roofs of the Hospices de Beaune. The tiles are not glazed or multicoloured, but they stand resplendent in their own way.

When asked what the roof patterns represent, the head of design at the council said; "There were holes in the roof, and we had some tiles laying around so we filled the gaps with them. We are thrilled that this approach has created a abstract design to delight art lovers."

As we walked the dogs I gazed at the seafront shelter and asked My Wife what she thought the tile design represented. She looked at me, gave a big sigh as she said to herself; "Why did I have to be the one to marry the village idiot", she then swiftly kicked my dodgy knee and as I fell to the ground caught me with a perfect uppercut. I can only assume that she is not one that appreciates the wonders of modern art.

We understand that this new art installation on Milford on Sea seafront is strongly rumoured to make the short-list for the Turner Prize 2014.