Intriguing Homage sculptures officially ‘opened’ at Eaton Park

The ‘Homage to Sir Thomas Browne’ sculptures were once a part of the attractions on Hay Hill where a redevelopment, now nearing completion, has been undertaken by Norwich City Council to give a new repurposed green space for people to enjoy in the heart of the city.

The Homage sculptures were originally commissioned to mark the 400th anniversary of Browne’s birth date by the Arts Council England East, Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council through Commissions East. Designed by French artists Anne and Patrick Poirier, the pieces include a large brain sculpture and an eye sculpture, and honour the English physician, polymath, author and philosopher, who lived in Norwich from 1636 until his death in 1682. Browne’s writings documented over 700 new words to the English language, and his statue, commissioned to mark his 300th birthday, remains at Hay Hill.

The relocation of the Homage sculptures to Eaton Park, a recipient of Green Flag and Green Flag Heritage Awards, was funded by the UK Government as part of the Norwich Town Deal Hay Hill Public Realm Scheme.

Following a consultation, Eaton Park was chosen as an ideal location being halfway between Hay Hill, the Sainsbury Centre and UEA Sculpture Park, a route which has previously featured as part of the Norwich Art Path sculpture trail.

The pieces sit within two crescent-shaped grassy mounds and a small woodland area, with pathways designed around a shape called a quincunx. For Browne, whose interest in plants and herbal medicines led him to cultivate his own garden in Norwich, this five-pointed geometrical plantation pattern symbolised the starting point for an exploration of the chaotic abundance of nature.

Leader of Norwich City Council, Councillor Mike Stonard said: “Relocating the Homage sculptures to Eaton Park has been an important part of our project to redevelop and enhance Hay Hill. The sculptures, symbolising the ideas of Sir Thomas Browne who was a key figure of the early Enlightenment and a significant person in Norwich’s history, will continue to bring his story to residents and visitors in their beautiful new permanent surroundings.” 

Yesterday Friends of Eaton Park and Norwich City Council welcomed visitors and residents to celebrate the official ‘opening’ of the statues in their new setting.

In declaring the sculptures officially open for all to enjoy, Lord Mayor Councillor Vivien Thomas said: “We are delighted these evocative sculptures have found a home in such a beautiful green space.  We extend a big thank you to the city council’s landscape architects, open spaces officer and the contractors who worked on the installation, and to the Friends of Eaton Park for their help in bringing this important project to fruition and identifying an area where the Homage can be shown off at its best and where anyone can come and enjoy what this set of pieces has to offer.”

Helen Mitchell, chair of Friends of Eaton Park, said: “We’ve grown to love this distinctive and special artwork. On Hay Hill, ‘Homage’ was where children climbed and played and where adults sat and chatted or ate lunch - all perfect park activities. There’s also a feeling of kinship with Browne. Like so many of the Norwich people who use and love this park, Browne had a job – he was a doctor – but he didn’t allow this to get in the way of having a huge range of enthusiasms and studies of his own. Perhaps the most beautiful connection is the meadow. Our own North Park Meadow is adjacent to Homage, while Browne had his own rewilded area of meadow beside the Wensum in the city.”

An interpretation panel, devised in collaboration with Friends of Eaton Park, will be installed at a later date. Visit the Friends website for more information: