It could be seen as a symbol of the ultimate futility of man’s attempts to bring order to the natural world. Or maybe it was just a design fault.
Either way, an elegant stone ring created by a mysterious artist dubbed the Borrowdale Banksy is no more, having apparently collapsed.
Situated above Warnscale Bothy and overlooking Buttermere and Crummock Water, the structure was one of several which appeared on the north Lakeland fells during lockdown last year.
The identity of the artist remains a mystery, although the complex nature of the designs and the skill required to create the free-standing circles from thin slabs of local slate suggest he or she is a professional.
It’s even been suggested the Borrowdale Banksy could be a dry-stone waller.
The sad demise of this particular stone circle was reported by Nicola Crisp and her partner Freddie Forsyth, who had been determined to track it down despite its location being a closely guarded secret.
“We’d looked for it the week before and had no luck in finding it,” Freddie said. “We returned on Saturday morning armed with GPS co-ordinates.
“It was still not easy to find, but eventually we discovered it. Unfortunately it was all a bit of an anti-climax, as it had fallen down.”
The first of the structures was discovered in May last year by Keswick-based climber and photographer Carl Halliday.
He said: “I usually have mixed feelings about man made structures like this in a natural setting; as climbers, we practise a minimal-impact approach. But I have to say that this was different. It seemed sensitive to the existing environment and complemented the already stunning views.”
Carl added that he was impressed with the way the structure blended with its surroundings “despite being a new and man made piece of art”
“It’s a shame, especially if it was knocked down intentionally. But these impressive sculptures were only ever going to be temporary.
“Many have enjoyed them, some have criticised them, but it can’t be denied that they have been successful pieces of art in terms of stimulating an emotional response from people.
“They were always going to return to the pile of rocks that they once were however, but I suspect the sculptures will remain in people’s memories long after they’ve gone.”
Two of the structures are still standing, on Castle Crag and Raven Crag.
Terry Hawkins, a Merseyside-based slate sculptor who has been artist-in-residence at Honister Slate Mine, denied that he was the Borrowdale Banksy but said he was sad to hear of the demise of the Warnscale Bothy creation.
“Something like that is never going to be permanent, because eventually the elements and gravity will take it down,” he said. “But it was great while it lasted, and maybe he’ll do another one.”
