British singer Robbie Williams left a giant 18-meter robot named Om at his former mansion in Compton Bassett, Wiltshire, where it now stands abandoned.
The giant animatronic prop, which towers over surrounding trees, regularly surprises passing drivers and walkers in the English countryside.
Local residents nicknamed the giant mechanical figure Om as it slowly rusts among the trees on the singer's former estate.
The figure was originally the central piece of a 20 million dollar concert production created for Take That, the British boy band that launched Williams to fame.
The animatronic robot made its debut during the band's 2011 global tour. The stage production was on such a large scale that observers compared it to concert shows staged by American groups like NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.
Take That members Howard Donald, Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, and Mark Owen performed on stage in front of the 18-meter robot at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday, July 9, 2011, during their Progress tour. Williams, who is one of the top-selling British solo artists, formerly resided at the sprawling seven-bedroom estate in Compton Bassett. He now spends much of his time in Florida, where he recently purchased a 40 million dollar beachfront mansion in Coral Gables.
Abandoned Wiltshire Estate Prop
Williams sold the Wiltshire estate years later, but the giant robot remained behind on the grounds. It has stood outdoors ever since, exposed to the elements and gradually rusting among the trees.
The structure has turned into an unexpected local legend among drivers and people walking their dogs, who are often startled when the giant figure appears through the dense vegetation.
Local Reactions to the Giant Figure
Local resident Sarah Spencer described her shock upon first seeing Om. She told Talker News that when she first saw it, she had to turn back to check if she had really seen what she thought. Spencer said the figure caught her completely by surprise and sparked her curiosity. She added that she thought someone had built a Wicker Man, referring to the giant human structure made of branches known from the horror movie of the same name.
Another resident, Liz Nieve, said the robot stands right next to the road, giving drivers the impression that it appears suddenly out of nowhere. Nieve said the spot is perfect because the figure seems to pop out of nowhere and then fade back into the vegetation as cars drive past. She also joked that she wondered whether local residents were preparing for a reenactment of The Wicker Man.
Uncertain Future for the Stage Robot
Neither Williams nor representatives for the estate have explained why the 18-meter prop was not removed when the singer sold the property. It also remains unknown whether there are any plans to remove the robot in the future, which continues to lurk among the trees of the English countryside.
