Status: Removed – Temporary Exhibit
Something that came and went – Bethany Hunton’s ‘L34’ was briefly sited in Hartlepool and Seaton Carew in 2020, and focused on the relationship between material and place.
Hunton’s research led her to the story of the L34 Zeppelin, which was part of the aerial bombardment of Hartlepool on the 27th November 1916. The craft was shot down by 20-year old Sub-Lieutenant Ian Pyott (photos from the wonderful Hartlepool History Then and Now website are shown in this post) and aluminium fragments washed ashore.
Photographs of the Zeppelin being shot down from Hartlepool History Then and Now
Hunton discovered that a large piece of the Zeppelin L34 was housed at the Dorman Museum, and was inspired after viewing it:
“What especially struck me was that the larger piece was a mangled circle shape as it appeared. As well as circles being a prominent feature on a lot of the pieces. Therefore, I took these aluminium disc pieces to the beach and positioned them in a varied way to represent the aluminium Zeppelin pieces being washed onto the shore of Hartlepool once again.”
Sources
Raid on the North East Coast – Tees Valley Museums
Zeppelin Raids on the Hartlepools – Hartlepool History Then and Now
North East Statues 