Shrimp Sculpture, Plymouth

The Barbican Prawn, formally known as “Leviathan,” has become an iconic figure at Plymouth’s historic Sutton Harbour. This imaginative sculpture stands at the heart of Plymouth, affectionately guarding the entrance to the harbor. Installed over two decades ago, this metal creation combines marine life elements-a head resembling an angler fish, a lobster’s shell and claws, and a John Dory’s fin and tail-into a surreal sea creature that draws on Plymouth’s rich maritime heritage. Anchored with cormorant feet and winding around a pole, Leviathan’s plesiosaurus-like tail and its towering figure embody the area’s connection to the ocean.

The Barbican Prawn not only showcases Plymouth’s pride in its coastal history but also commemorates its strategic role in moments like the sighting of the Spanish Armada by Sir Francis Drake and the detention of Napoleon in Plymouth Sound. Its presence is marked by plaques along its pole detailing Plymouth’s marine heritage, including the fossil history of cormorants and voyages of Captain James Cook.

As of recent years, Leviathan’s eyes have regained their glow thanks to restoration efforts by the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and the Sutton Harbour Group. These illuminated eyes, set to shine nightly from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., make the statue even more enchanting, welcoming locals and tourists alike to explore Plymouth’s oceanic past.