Corn King And Spring Queen Sculpture At Madge Electronics Site

The Corn King and Spring Queen sculpture, created in 1964 by William Mitchell for the British Cement Association, is located at the Madge Electronics site on Framewood Road in Wexham. This sculpture is made from bonded cast concrete sections in red and grey, featuring incised and applied decorations. Various materials such as ceramic, mosaic, flints, and pebbles are embedded in the concrete. Standing approximately fourteen to fifteen feet high, the sculpture consists of two main figures formed from cast pieces that are assembled and decorated, along with a smaller, more abstract third figure set back. The figures represent primitive and totemic symbols of mythology and fertility, possibly influenced by Native American traditions.

The Corn King and Spring Queen is the most significant surviving element of the British Cement Association's former research station, which was established in Wexham Springs in 1947 and mostly demolished in 1995. It is the standout feature of the well-designed grounds by Geoffrey Jellicoe, Sylvia Crowe, and others, which included artistic elements like cladding panels, bollards, and pavings that have since largely disappeared. This sculpture exemplifies how concrete can be used as an imaginative and attractive medium. William Mitchell, known for his concrete relief sculptures, was commissioned in 1959 by the London County Council to collaborate with architects and later worked with notable figures like Basil Spence and Frederick Gibberd. The Corn King and Spring Queen is considered his principal freestanding work, showcasing a powerful and unusual imagination.