Chess sculpture trail opens in Newmarket
Each timber sculpture is paired with a unique 18-character motto and those following the Chess Sculpture Trail are invited to work out what the pieces are saying, following a route around the town that visits the:
- KING – The Sovereign – located on Palace Street outside the National Horseracing Museum;
- QUEEN – The Guardian – can be found by Memorial Hall;
- BISHOP – The Trainer – is aptly positioned on the turf at The Severals;
- KNIGHT – The Bloodline – is located at the southern end of the High Street;
- ROOK – The Yard – is by the Bill Tutte Memorial; and
- PAWNS – The People’s Pieces – the three sculptures are in The Guineas Shopping Centre, Memorial Gardens and off Fred Archer Way.
The beautiful, hand-carved wooden chess pieces that comprise the Chess Sculpture Trail marry the intrigue of chess with the heritage of horseracing, with heraldic motifs and phrases drawing on the symbolism and stories that define the British home of horseracing.
There is a QR code at each sculpture offering downloadable maps and interpretive clues.
Paper copies of the trail map are also available from the National Horseracing Museum.
The Chess Sculpture Trail is the result of a partnership between Discover Newmarket – the not-for-profit tourism organisation at the heart of British flat racing – Newmarket Town Council, and Love Newmarket BID.
It continues the theme of “Horseplay”, the current exhibition at the National Horseracing Museum, which explores the history of racing games and runs until the end of the year.
The National Horseracing Museum (www.nhrm.co.uk) is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Tickets cost £15, children under 16 are free of charge.