Monks who would have once called the ruined Bury St Edmunds Abbey their home have been celebrated with four hand-carved wooden sculptures.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sculptures by John Williams installed in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. Left to right, Lynda Seldis, Martyn Taylor, John Williams, Melanie Lesser and Graham Maynard. Picture: GREGG BROWNSculptures by John Williams installed in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. Left to right, Lynda Seldis, Martyn Taylor, John Williams, Melanie Lesser and Graham Maynard. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Bury artist John Williams has carved four monk sculptures from elm grown in Nowton Park.

After weeks carving the statues cooped up in one of the Abbey Gardens’ aviaries, Mr Williams revealed his final work at an unveiling on Thursday, June 22

The sculptures depict the craftsmen that have worked on and in the St Edmundsbury Abbey over the centuries, with The Mason, The Physician, The Scribe and The Herbalist.

Bury in Bloom paid for the tools used to create the sculptures, while the Abbey volunteer gardeners have helped to prepare the new bed for the display.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sculptures by John Williams installed in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. Left to right, Lynda Seldis, Martyn Taylor, John Williams, Melanie Lesser and Graham Maynard. Picture: GREGG BROWNSculptures by John Williams installed in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. Left to right, Lynda Seldis, Martyn Taylor, John Williams, Melanie Lesser and Graham Maynard. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Martyn Taylor, Bury Society chairman, wrote four information panels explaining each artwork and the history of the role they depict.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sculptures by John Williams installed in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. Left to right, Lynda Seldis, Martyn Taylor, John Williams, Melanie Lesser and Graham Maynard. Picture: GREGG BROWNSculptures by John Williams installed in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. Left to right, Lynda Seldis, Martyn Taylor, John Williams, Melanie Lesser and Graham Maynard. Picture: GREGG BROWN

East Anglian Daily Times: Sculptures by John Williams installed in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. Left to right, Lynda Seldis, Martyn Taylor, John Williams, Melanie Lesser and Graham Maynard. Picture: GREGG BROWNSculptures by John Williams installed in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. Left to right, Lynda Seldis, Martyn Taylor, John Williams, Melanie Lesser and Graham Maynard. Picture: GREGG BROWN

East Anglian Daily Times: Sculptures by John Williams installed in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. Left to right, Lynda Seldis, Martyn Taylor, John Williams, Melanie Lesser and Graham Maynard. Picture: GREGG BROWNSculptures by John Williams installed in Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds. Left to right, Lynda Seldis, Martyn Taylor, John Williams, Melanie Lesser and Graham Maynard. Picture: GREGG BROWN