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Merzbarn, Great Langdale
Merzbarn
locality:-   Cylinders Farm
locality:-   Great Langdale
civil parish:-   Lakes (formerly Westmorland)
county:-   Cumbria
locality type:-   barn
locality type:-   sculpture (site) 
coordinates:-   NY32740524
1Km square:-   NY3205
10Km square:-   NY30
SummaryText:-   Uncertain location.


photograph
BZT67.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.
photograph
BZT69.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.


photograph
BZT68.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.
photograph
BZT70.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.
photograph
BZT71.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.
photograph
BZT72.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.
photograph
BZT73.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.
photograph
BZT78.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.
photograph
BZT79.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.
photograph
BZT80.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.
photograph
BZT81.jpg (taken 10.1.2014)  courtesy of the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle.

hearsay:-  
This barn was rented to Kurt Schwitters, dadaist poet, painter, sculptor, fugitive from Nazi Germany, where he began to create a sculptural environment, 1947. Already very ill, he finished only one wall of the Merzbarn at Elterwater before he died in 1948. For conservation reasons the wall given to the Hatton Gallery, University of Newcastle, 1965.
For Kurt Scwitters the location was significant:-
"He [the barn's owner] is a genius ... he lets the weeds grow, yet by means of slight touches he transforms them into a composition as I create art out of rubbish. He wants to give me every assistance. the new Merz construction will stand close to nature, in the midst of a national park, and afford a wonderful view in all directions. ..."
The site of the barn was once known as Cylinders Farm, named for the cylindrical charcoal kilns that stood there as part of Elterwater Gunpowder Mills.

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