A Walk Through Time
The SPIRAL Centre's contribution to celebrate Seaton’s 1000th anniversary in 2O05 is to construct a Labyrinth Walk in the Cliff field.
It will have an eleven circuit form based on a combination of designs at Chartres Cathedral in France and the one at Saffron Waldron in Suffolk.
The pathways will be grass, but the divides will be made from stone from quarries all along the World Heritage coast.
Ammonites will be set into the lobes and a Portland stone slab in the centre.
Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has no false turns or dead ends.
There will be an Interpretation board explaining the geology of the coast as well as special features of our Labyrinth and how it relates to the coastline.
There will also be a carved finger labyrinth for all to use.
The purpose of the project is to relate to the twists and turns of life’s journey to our cultural heritage embodied in labyrinth design, and to the unique evolutionary heritage exposed in the geological sequences of the local coast, so famous for its spiral ammonite fossils.
Walking a labyrinth is a meaningful experience that connects one more closely to the processes and purposes of life. We expect many interpretational, educational, and artistic and research studies to flow from our labyrinth project and we look forward to guiding people in its use.
Labyrinths have a universal appeal and are found all around the world, from all cultures and all ages, they are renowned for their healing properties.
Within a 60ft diameter spiral, the half-mile walk will connect with the way in which the 95-mile coastline reveals 185 million years of evolution.
This project has received support from the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter, Michael Fairfax, sculptor of the Exmouth Geo-needle, Jane Sunderland designer of the Norwich Cathedral Labyrinth, Dorset County Council, and David Bellamy.
Grants for its construction, use, and interpretation have been received from Seaton Town Council, Devon, and Dorset County Councils (World Heritage Coast Team), the Conservation Foundation and the Local Heritage Initiative, which is a partnership between the Heritage Lottery, fund, Nationwide Building Society and the Countryside Agency.
The Spiral Centre, which is concerned with personal and environmental well-being, is extremely grateful to all the supporters of this project and looks forward to welcoming people to ‘Walk through time’ in the Seaton Labyrinth in 2005.
The grand opening will be on Sunday 24th July 2005.