‘Holding Up’ by Edward Crooks launches at Castle Drogo

This week, artist and architectural designer Edward Crooks has launched a new theatrical installation called ‘Holding Up’ at Castle Drogo, a National Trust property on Dartmoor. The installation, which will be on display in the Library until 4 November, celebrates Castle Drogo as the product of fabricated stories and unbuilt proposals.

‘Holding Up’ is a large scale architectural installation, over 3 metres high, alongside a set of drawings, models and films, which invites visitors to explore the foundations holding up a vast unbuilt tower above Castle Drogo. Sampled from the building, the fragments allow visitors to make connections to existing stories in the castle’s architecture; revealing altered staircases, concrete structures and hidden steel beams.

After a working residency within the castle, Edward draws upon these stories, working with the help of local craftsmen such as stonemason Ben Martin to create a beautiful piece of carved granite. Edward says, ‘I’ve had a fantastic time here at Castle Drogo, where I’ve been delving deep into the archives, exploring the remarkable restoration, and getting to know the place and inspired by the stories I’ve gathered from its fantastic staff, volunteers and visitors. Coming from an architectural background, the opportunity to develop new work in such a significant building is a real honour, and I look forward to introducing the public to Drogo’s tongue-in-cheek spirit of theatricality and myth through this installation.’

Left to visitor’s imaginations ‘Holding Up’ furthers the spirit of speculation from which Castle Drogo was first created. It was built between 1911-1930 entirely out of hand cut granite with reinforced concrete ceilings. Like many plans for a new house this design changed over the 19 years, from a discarded west wing to a chapel being built in the crypt. The restoration project is now in its last year and will be complete by the end of 2018, and throughout 2019 the collection and rooms will be reinstated.

‘Holding Up’ has been made possible through the support of Trust New Art, the National Trust's programme connecting people to our places through contemporary arts in partnership with Arts Council England. Edward would also like to express his thanks to the Blackenstone Quarry, Design and Making, Exeter Phoenix and Grymsdyke Farm for their generosity in supporting this project.