A remarkable sculpture celebrating its first anniversary at Shorne Woods Country Park tells the story of centuries of human labor through an unexpected medium - a life-sized horse constructed entirely from historical artifacts found on the property. The Shorne Pony, created by artist Steve Portchmouth, stands as a testament to the countless workers who shaped the Kent landscape through generations of backbreaking labor.
Located at the entrance to Shorne Woods Country Park near Gravesend, on the edge of the protected Kent Downs landscape, the sculpture appears at first glance to be simply a life-sized pony. However, closer inspection reveals a complex artwork built from old machinery pieces, worn tools, and rusted weapon fragments unearthed from beneath the ground.
Every component of the Shorne Pony carries historical significance, representing the people who dug clay, hauled timber, and shaped the land with their hands. The sculpture incorporates materials spanning centuries, from Tudor-era tools to military scrap, all discovered either on-site or retrieved from the park's archaeological storage facility.
Portchmouth, who maintains his studio in nearby Higham, used exclusively materials found on the property to create the piece. "I took practically the entire contents of the park's archaeological store," the artist explained. "In fact, I used more than what was already in storage. We had to go out and dig up even more."
The artifacts were uncovered by the Shorne Woods Archaeology Group, a dedicated team of volunteers led by archaeologist Andrew Mayfield and other specialists who have been conducting research and excavations at the park since 2006. Their work has revealed layers of history buried beneath the surface, providing Portchmouth with the raw materials for his artistic vision.
Visitors of all ages have embraced the sculpture since its installation. Park user Tom Garner described the experience succinctly: "It's like walking past history in 3D." His seven-year-old son Oscar offered his own perspective, saying, "This statue reminds me of a horse Transformer. Like it could come to life and start moving any second."
For Portchmouth, who moved to Kent as a boy and has lived and worked in the area ever since, the choice of subject matter was deeply meaningful. As he sorted through the archaeological finds, he recognized a story of hard physical labor. "People clearing woodland, digging clay, farming the land, building paths and roads," he reflected. "If you've ever worked in forestry or land management, you know how hard it is. So I asked myself, what could show that kind of labor? A draught horse felt right. Its strength, endurance, history."
The construction process involved building a strong metal frame to serve as the sculpture's skeleton. "That's the internal skeleton," Portchmouth explained. "Around it, I placed all the machinery and metalwork we found." He then covered this framework with the authentic historical objects - pieces of quarry equipment, military debris, and Tudor-era implements - mounting them all to create the horse's exterior.
The artist described the project as transformative. "The whole project was brilliant. Genuinely fascinating. It wasn't just about making a sculpture. It was about preserving memory in a physical way. Like a museum."
Portchmouth has established a reputation for creating bold animal sculptures using wood, reclaimed metal, and salvaged objects that reflect Kent's industrial and rural heritage. His portfolio includes several notable works throughout the region, including the Tannery Field Bull in Canterbury, constructed from steel rails to honor the area's tannery and railway history. He also created the Sleeping Monk, positioned along the historic Pilgrims Way walking route.
Within Shorne Woods Country Park itself, visitors can discover several of Portchmouth's creations scattered throughout the grounds. These include a series of animals along the Animal Sculpture Trail, the Green Man, the Big Hand with Flint, and the Circle of Fairies, each contributing to the park's unique artistic landscape.
The park also features a Clay Work trail, acknowledging the area's industrial history and the clay extraction that once took place on the land. This historical context provides additional meaning to the Shorne Pony, which serves as a three-dimensional monument to the workers who labored in these very fields and forests.
The Shorne Pony officially celebrated its first anniversary at the park in Spring 2025, marking a year since it began drawing visitors and sparking conversations about the area's rich history. The sculpture has become more than just an art installation; it functions as an interactive history lesson, allowing people to literally see and touch artifacts from different periods while appreciating them as components of a larger artistic vision.
Shorne Woods Country Park, situated in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, provides an ideal setting for Portchmouth's work. The protected landscape, known for its natural beauty and historical significance, offers visitors the opportunity to experience both the area's environmental splendor and its cultural heritage through installations like the Shorne Pony.
The sculpture represents a unique approach to historical preservation, transforming archaeological finds that might otherwise remain hidden in storage into a publicly accessible artwork. By incorporating these artifacts into a dynamic sculpture, Portchmouth has created a bridge between past and present, allowing contemporary visitors to connect with the experiences of those who worked the land centuries before them.
As the Shorne Pony continues to attract visitors and generate interest in the park's archaeological treasures, it stands as a powerful example of how art can serve as both creative expression and historical education, bringing the stories of ordinary working people to life through extraordinary artistic vision.
