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The Iron Men of Crosby Beach
Written by Karize Uy 
Photo: Donald Judge
Most beaches are left empty when the fall and winter seasons come, but Crosby Beach in Sefton, England will always have a hundred people year round, only they’re not made of skin, muscle and bones, but of cast iron. Crosby Beach is one of the most remarkable beaches in the world because it is home to 100 life-size sculptures popular known as the Iron Men.
The collection of these cast-iron figures is formally called “Another Place,” created by British artist Antony Gormley. The installation art stretches 2 miles along Crosby Beach, with the sculptures standing in isolation from each other, looking out into the sea. In the picture below, we can see just how far apart the figures are from each other, because the other figures farther away are mere specks.
Photo: Simon James
"Another Place" is a unique art installation because Gormley actually used his own body as the mold for the sculptures, making them anatomically accurate. He must be a tall guy because the statues are 189 cm tall - but he wouldn’t be as heavy as the statues weigh around 650 kg each.
Photo: Chris Howells
"Another Place" was already exhibited in Belgium, Germany and Norway before it was permanently installed at Crosby Beach, which almost didn't happen at all. The figures were supposed to be shipped to New York in 2006, but the local people campaigned for them to stay right in their homeland. So "Another Place" never made it to New York, and in 2007, was granted permission for a permanent installation at Crosby Beach.
These statues can be very good indicators whether it is high tide or low tide. During low tide, even the pedestals the figures are standing on can be seen.
Photo: Rachel D
During high tide, the statues can be buried up to their thighs. Some can even be completely submerged.
Photo: Wendy Mann
Visitors even make their own art by adding objects to the Iron Men, such as a shopping cart or a pair of shades.
Photo: Geograph
Photo: Bixentro
Because of the exposure to natural elements such as the sun, wind, saltwater and the changing seasons, some statues have changed their appearance and probably their chemical composition, too. Here, we can see a close-up look of how rusty and tarnished they have become. Take a look at how the exterior is flaking off due to oxidation.
Photo: Peter Allen
Some statues are even covered with lots of moss, seaweed or sand.
Photo: The Yes Man
Not only is "Another Place" an aesthetic pleasure, it is also the subject of a scientific study. Scientists are looking at the statues to observe how some organisms inhabit an object and make it their habitat. Barnacles, the cousins of crabs, are said to reside around some of the iron figures.
Apart from Crosby Beach, you can also see more of these Iron Men around Britain. Jesus College, for example, is another home to Gormley’s art installation; one he calls “Sculpture in the Close.” In this picture, we can see a lone statue lying face down, while in another picture, several iron figures are piled up randomly.
Photo: Amanda Slater
Photo: Amanda Slater
Probably the best time to visit Crosby Beach is during the fall and wintertime, when there won’t be any crowds, and you can take good pictures of the sculptures. So put your jacket on and head over to Crosby Beach and visit the Iron Men this coming autumn.
Photo: John Davey
© Karize Uy
