The Chilton Athenaeum
As Lockdown One ended, Tim was finally able to install his artwork The Chilton Athenaeum on Chilton Fields, Oxfordshire—a commission he originally won in 2014. Thanks to the determination of the local community, the project was given permission on 2 June 2020. Working with Sawscapes, Tim delivered an ambitious installation comprising over 100 tons of local limestone placed into bespoke steel cages, topped with timber, and surrounded by excavated soil and grass. The design draws inspiration from its setting near the Ridgeway—Britain’s oldest road linking ancient earthworks—and the nearby Harwell Diamond Synchrotron, one of the UK’s most advanced science facilities. The work celebrates this dialogue between ancient and modern. Originally envisioned as a sculptural seating and performance area that could unite both sides of Chilton (the medieval village and the newer development separated by the A34), the project has indeed fulfilled that hope—made possible through the continued support of residents from both communities.
