Purpose of the 'Witches' Hats' on the A13 in London

Driving from Gatwick Airport into central London via the Dartford Tunnel, travellers will see two very odd structures at the Dagenham Roundabout. They are known locally as the "Witches' Hats". Some have described them as works of art meant to enrich the lives of those passing by, but these descriptions are fanciful, unsupported, and almost certainly apocryphal. Public artworks in London are commissioned by a local authority have a documented trail along with descriptive signage at their sites.

To my knowledge there are no other structures like this in the London area. And the Dagenham Roundabout does not have any claim to cultural heritage or historical significance that would offer grounds for situating a monument.

Those with access to Google Maps can see a high resolution image of the 'hat' here https://www.google.com.sa/maps/@51.5308332,0.1401711,3a,75y,220.02h,83.82t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sRnGuSwNa85elWZIKHgNyQg!2e0?hl=en

Note that there are no signs, no doors to the structures, or other indications of purpose.

For those without access to Google Maps, here's a static image...

enter image description here

Beyond some fanciful claim to random artwork situated at an implausible location, what are the 'Witch's Hats'?

Best Answer

Going out on a limb here I would say that it represents a play-on-words. Placing a Witches' Hat on a roundabout recalls the homonym carousel game. A witches' hat roundabout, is according to Wikipedia:

A cone shaped playground roundabout that is mounted in such a way that the axis of rotation is free to tilt.

In the old days, these roundabouts looked more or less like this (courtesy of Daily Mail and Getty Images): enter image description here

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Purpose of the 'Witches' Hats' on the A13 in London - Ethnic kid in police uniform in studio

Purpose of the 'Witches' Hats' on the A13 in London - Unrecognizable child in police uniform standing in studio with transceiver in hand and pulling cap over face on yellow background

Purpose of the 'Witches' Hats' on the A13 in London - Pleasant Asian boy in police uniform and cap looking away while standing with hands near chest in studio on yellow background

What is the significance of the witches hat?

The caps were supposedly meant to draw down God's grace in a last-ditch effort to redeem the wearers. Or perhaps the credit goes to folk artists, who as early as the 1500s used pointed hats to subtly evoke devil horns, though rarely on women.

What is the history of the witches hat?

The Cone-Shaped, Pointed Hat Participation in Kabbalah rituals had people believing that Jews held magical powers from making a deal with the devil, and in the 1200s, Jews in Hungary were required to wear this specific hat style to signify their religion.

Why is the witches hat pointed?

A Passive Vent Designed for Flat Roofs The witches hat ventilates the attic by letting out hot air in the summer and moisture in the winter. In addition, making this vent ideal for low sloped or flat roofs. The detachable head allows for easy installation on EPDM, PVC, TPO and other roof membranes.

What Is the Main Purpose in Life? | Eckhart Tolle

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Flora Westbrook, Amina Filkins, Amina Filkins, Amina Filkins