Norwich's Thomas Browne brain sculpture set for removal

Norwich City Council has submitted an application to its own planning committee to remove the statues on Hay Hill, which has been recommended for approval ahead of a meeting next week. 

The sculptures, sitting between Next and Primark, will be mothballed with no immediate plan in place for where they will go after a relocation project was scrapped. 

The carvings, which include inscriptions on blocks of marble, are called Homage To Sir Thomas Browne and were designed to complement the nearby statue of the 17th century physician, philosopher and writer. 

Hay Hill in Norwich Image: George Thompson, LDR (Image: George Thompson, LDR)

The statues were originally due to be moved to Elm Hill Gardens but following criticism from various local groups, they will be placed in storage while a new site is found. 

Moving the work is part of a plan to redesign Hay Hill, to make it more accessible.

Browne's own statue will be kept but placed in another spot. 

Since it was first proposed in 2007, the artwork - by French sculptors Anne and Patrick Poirier - has been divisive. 

While groups like the Norwich Society have called for them to be removed, others, including the Thomas Browne Society object. 

Thomas Browne's statue (Image: George T)

In total, 20 letters objecting to moving the sculpture have been submitted to the council. No letters were written in support. 

One member of the society wrote to the council arguing the work has been “misunderstood” by the “intelligentsia, the art critics, the heritage experts who expect it to be 'iconic', photogenic, 'Instagrammable'.” 

They argued there were no other suitable locations for the statues, which were made to “suit the site”. 

Officers have recommended the removal go ahead, arguing their benefit to the area will be reduced following a planned redesign of Hay Hill and discussions are ongoing about their re-use.