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The prehistoric people of Britain believed that rivers were a representation of the feminine divine and that each river was a manifestation of a goddess. Croxall Lakes, near Alrewas, marks the triple confluence of three rivers: the Tame, the Mease and the Trent. The goddess at this spiritual place was known as Trisentona, the thrice beloved.
Over the millennia, this was shortened to Trent.
To mark this site of spiritual significance in the landscape, we commissioned the carving of a stunning sculpture. Carved in Portland Stone by artists Miranda Wakeman and Geraint Lloyd of Amerton Arts, the piece was unveiled by Dawn Jutton, Staffordshire Poet Laureate, in March 2024. The unveiling included a reading of an original poem that Dawn had written for the creation.
Trisentone by Dawn Jutton
Ahead, low arches cradle the Tame rushing to meet the Mease and Trent its trusses stained with the tide-marks of swell.
A single upright bramble stands in thorny defiance against smooth columns of concrete; nature’s David in the Goliath of progress,
so we turn our backs to the river search for a place of safety to lick our urban wounds,
curl ourselves in cotton white nests and quiet willow hides, listen to Trisentone whisper:
have you ever seen an electric blue pulse unzip a river over washlands and in a dragon’s breath ferment it iridescent green
or a willow’s restless fingers still impatient water just for the thrill of it
have you ever played marsh chess with a heron while white-billed coots play pick-up-sticks?
She warns us the rivers aren’t breathing, they’re drowning, reminds us choices we make today hang over tomorrow in riverbeds cracked and dry as a morning-after mouth
Dawn Jutton, Poet Laureate, reading a poem dedicated to Trisentona at the unveiling c. Susan Freeman
The triple goddess Trisentona at Croxall Lakes following her unveiling. c Susan Freeman
At the unveiling of Trisentona c. Susan Freeman