In the village of Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, an abandoned two-seater sofa dumped on waste ground at the start of April has unexpectedly become a local sensation and tourist attraction. What began as an eyesore has transformed into a community focal point, drawing scores of visitors who have taken photographs and even left reviews on TripAdvisor, where the sofa now holds its own listing.
Local photographer Alex Elton-Wall, recognising the unusual potential of the piece of furniture and its setting, began a unique project capturing portraits of residents seated on the sofa. Since mid-April, Elton-Wall has photographed over 150 individuals from the area, including families, dog owners, local musicians, businesspeople, football players, and the landlords and landladies of village pubs. The latter even contributed to the photo sessions by bringing beer barrels to the scene.
Elton-Wall told Gloucestershire Live, "A piece of rubbish turned into something fun - as an amateur documentary photographer it has been a great opportunity to photograph the local community." He added, "As people came down, they made the sofa their own - people came with their families, their dogs, the landlord and landlady of the pubs came down as well."
The initiative began when Elton-Wall noticed the sofa during daily drives through the village. He described the sofa’s appearance as evocative: "It looked really cool – on one hand it looked sad but on the other hand looked quite homely and familiar." Motivated by an impending spell of poor weather forecast for the week ahead, Elton-Wall called on social media for volunteers "brave enough" to be photographed on the sofa. On Sunday, 13 April, he spent the day taking pictures, capturing around 40 photos of different residents during the initial session.
This spontaneous photoshoot blossomed into a regular event, with spoof living room items gradually appearing around the sofa, enhancing the scene. A side table, plant in a pot, lampshade, coffee table, magazine rack and rug now accompany the sofa, giving it the atmosphere of a genuine lounge space outdoors. The community coins these additions as the work of "Tumpsy," a mysterious local artist responsible for previous creative acts such as installing googly eyes around the village.
Besides the portraits, Elton-Wall’s project boasts an unconventional guest list that includes not only people but also animals ranging from dogs and a chicken to a tortoise and even a horse. According to the photographer, the portraits will be compiled into a photobook scheduled for release in July. Proceeds from the book’s sales will be donated to help fund playground equipment in Lydbrook, thereby supporting local amenities.
Despite the charm and community spirit generated by the sofa, its origins as fly-tipped furniture are kept firmly in mind by residents. Elton-Wall acknowledged the temporary nature of the installation: "We think the mysterious artist Tumpsy started bringing stuff to the sofa to turn it into a lounge and building the window behind the sofa." He added, "Everyone in the village is very conscious that fly-tipping is bad and we will make sure that no litter remains there."
He further noted that weather conditions will ultimately dictate the sofa’s fate. Once it deteriorates due to rain or other elements, the village intends to remove it responsibly. "It won’t stay there forever. Locals will make sure it is properly disposed of. All good things come to an end," Elton-Wall said.
The novel transformation of the once-forgotten sofa into the “Lydbrook Lounge” continues to foster community engagement and curiosity. It serves as an example of how an unexpected scene can become a gathering point, drawing locals and visitors alike to participate in its evolving story. The lounge’s popularity, including its social media presence and TripAdvisor listing, attests to the appeal of this quirky attraction in the heart of Gloucestershire.
Source: Noah Wire Services