Today I thought I’d share some pictures of two of my favourite spots in Rugby, England. Yes: this lovely sofa, arm chair and footstool are made of sandstone and are public benches in Jubilee Gardens.
The armchair, sofa, footstool and books were commissioned by Rugby Council. Sculptor Michael Scheuermann designed the pieces which were made in nearby Birmingham and installed in late 2008.
And as if these lovely sculptures weren’t enough for one town, there is also a chaise lounge tucked away behind the public library in the Percival Guildhouse Gardens:
The idea behind this unique street furniture was to celebrate Rugby’s famous writers, including those who attended Rugby School (the place the game was invented). So, carved into the stone, you can see books and quotes from the following authors: Rupert Brooke, Lewis Carroll, Matthew Arnold, Gillian Cross, Philip Toynbee, Arthur Ransome, Richard Grant, Thomas Hughes, John Gillespie Magee, Anthony Horowitz, Isabel Wolff, Andrew Norman Wilson, Percy Wyndham Lewis, Denys Watkins Pitchford, Salman Rushdie and Arthur Hugh Clough.
Some more pictures, taken on a more typically rainy day:
Do any of you live anywhere with wonderful bookish sculptures?
Art and Soul 
Oh my god this place looks amazing! If I lived anywhere near there I dont think I would ever leave! Its just breathtaking!
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I stop and stare at it every time we go past. It’s just such a great idea, I can’t believe every town doesn’t have one!
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It needs to be a mandatory addition in every city 🙂 preferably within walking distance of a library naturally
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Love these 🙂
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So do I and they go sadly unnoticed. The one at the back of the library is completely hidden. They are brilliant. If I had the money I’d have one in the back garden 🙂
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These are so amazing! 🙂
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I know, right? And I am sad to say I’ve never seen anyone sitting on them. People just walk right by and don’t see them!
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I’d always be sitting on them hahha.
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How lovely!
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There are many pretty things in Rugby, but I think these are my favourites 🙂
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How brilliant it is! I love how the books are tucked into places! 🙂
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Me too! Apparently there’s a hidden tea cup (with porcelain) hidden near the chaise lounge and some of the quotes/names are meant to be like bookish puzzles!
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How cool is that! Have you tried solving it?
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I don’t think my knowledge of local writer is good enough! 🙂
I will find that tea cup though. It’s me latest mission!
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Wish we had something like that here! 🙂
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I think every town should have one. Next to the library!
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Have you tried to use them as a bench to read? 🙂
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I haven’t… yet. But only because I’m always out with my 3-year old and he’s not great at sitting still! In the summer I would definitely use the one at the back of the library. I can’t believe how hidden away it is. You could read in almost total privacy in a nice garden on the grandest couch in the world 🙂
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They are beautiful! Sorry to bring it round to funereal stuff but the chaise would make a lovely memorial/grave marker. Poor Byron has a boring black marble book, that would look much nicer. I once saw an opera singer’s grave in Budapest that is a life-size 4 poster bed, strew with flowers and books.
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That’s a good idea. It would be a fitting tribute for a writer or avid reader!
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Oh my god that looks amazing, I could literally just sit there and read all day. Looks absolutely stunning. Why isn’t there one of those in my area!?!
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I think every town should have one! 🙂
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Definitely!
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They’re so beautiful and bookish! 🙂
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I know! I thought I was hallucinating the first time I saw the sofa and armchair! 🙂
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