Underpass Artworks of the British Isles
Contents
- Underpass Artworks
- Greenock Bullring Car Park South Pedestrian Underpass
- Greenock West Stewart Street pedestrian underpass
- Greenock Oak Mall pedestrian underpass
- Harpenden Station Road underpass
- Glasgow Meadow Road pedestrian underpass
- Milngavie Station Road pedestrian underpass
- Milngavie, Gavin's Mill Underpass
- Hyndland railway station - Wonderful Trains
- Bedminster railway station pedestrian underpass, Bristol
- Glasgow Commmonwealth Games murals
- Tullycarnet, Dundonald
- Main Street Cambuslang
- Halesworth New Reach underpass
- Westhumble subway near Burford Bridge
- Sproughton pedestrian subway
- Poplar, A12 underpass
- Loughborough, Browns Lane pedestrian subway
- Cambridge, Elizabeth Way
- London, Tottenham Court Road tube station
- Bradford, Jacob's Well roundabout
- Oxted, railway station
- Yeovil, Red Lion Lane underpass
- Dunfermline, Comely Park Subway
- Greenock, Belville Street former underpass approaches (now blocked)
- Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Bridge Street Underpass
- Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Ryecroft Underpass
- Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Nelson Place Subway
- Gorton, A57 Underpass
- Dunkirk, A52 Ring Road Underpass
- Cramlington, A189 Elly Dee Underpass
- Dover, A20 Underpass
- Paisley Gilmour Street railway station underpass
- Motherwell, Barrie Street Underpass
- Motherwell, West Hamilton Street underpass
- Motherwell, Merry Street underpass
- Garscube Road underpass, Cowcaddens, Glasgow
- Greenock Bullring Car Park, North Pedestrian Underpass
- Newport, S Wales, Old Green Crossing
- Llangennech, S Wales, A4138 Underpass
- Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, Rishworth Road underpass
- Coventry, Riley Square
- Coventry, Pool Meadow Bus Station
- Birmingham, junction of Smallbrook Queensway and Hurst Street
- Birmingham, formerly at St Chad's Circus on the ring road, now at Digbeth
- Birmingham, Holloway Circus, formerly known as Horsefair
- Birmingham, Hockley Flyover, A41 at Hockley
- Coventry Ring Road, junction with Upper Well Street and Radford Road
- Coventry, The Cullen Murals, Lower Precinct
Bradford, Jacob's Well roundabout
A mural work, possibly the collaborative work of local schoolchildren, on the tiled wall of a pedestrian subway at Jacob's Well in Bradford. Translations available on request!
by Stephen Craven
Oxted, railway station
The subway under Oxted station has been refurbished with these colourful mosaics including directions such as this one to "shops and Station Road East".
by Stephen Craven
Yeovil, Red Lion Lane underpass
Colourful murals decorate this subway at Yeovil Hospital, connecting Higher Kingston with Reckleford.
by Derek Harper
Dunfermline, Comely Park Subway
The underpass between Dunfermline Town railway station and Comely Park. This is the station side of the underpass.
by Thomas Nugent
The underpass between Dunfermline Town railway station and Comely Park. This is the Comely Park side of the underpass.
by Thomas Nugent
Greenock, Belville Street former underpass approaches (now blocked)
Details of some of the many vessels which are depicted on the mural.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
A pipe runs vertically through the centre of the mural.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
The blocked-up pedestrian underpass can be seen on the left.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Looking along the mural from the Belville Street entrance to the garden.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Bridge Street Underpass
The distinctive profile of St Giles' Church features in one mural.
by Jonathan Hutchins
Shared Description
Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Ryecroft Underpass
Entrance to the Ryecroft underpass off Liverpool Road on the north side of the dual carriageway.
by Jonathan Hutchins
The art in this subway celebrates Newcastle-born Philip Astley (1742-1814), 'father of the modern circus'. See also Link
by Jonathan Hutchins
The art in this subway celebrates Newcastle-born Philip Astley (1742-1814), 'father of the modern circus'. See also Link and Link
by Jonathan Hutchins
Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Nelson Place Subway
Gorton, A57 Underpass
The mural on the walls of the A57 underpass references Belle Vue Zoo and the Central Railway Works in Gorton.
by Gerald England
Dunkirk, A52 Ring Road Underpass
Decorative graffiti in the subway under the ring road at Dunkirk. Painted in March 2012 by pupils from Dunkirk Primary School Link and commendably free from unwanted over-painting.
by Alan Murray-Rust
Decorative graffiti in the subway under the ring road at Dunkirk. All the kids at Dunkirk Primary School appear to have had a hand in creating this artwork.
by Alan Murray-Rust
Decorative graffiti in the subway under the ring road at Dunkirk. All the kids at Dunkirk Primary School appear to have had a hand in creating this artwork Link .
by Alan Murray-Rust
Cramlington, A189 Elly Dee Underpass
'Elley Dee' illuminates a previously dingy pedestrian underpass under the A189. The title is an affectionate reference to the L.E.Ds used in the new lighting system.
by Kevin Richardson
Dover, A20 Underpass
Running between the town centre and the sea front, this underpass gives pedestrians and cyclists safe access under the A20. The tiled murals show the maritime history of the area.
by pam fray
The underpass is under Townwall Street. The wide red strip was painted on the floor in preparation for the 2012 Olympic torch relay, which will pass through here on 18 July.
by John Baker
Paisley Gilmour Street railway station underpass
In the upper of the two underpasses at the station, between the platforms. By local artist Caroline Gormley, who was assisted by co-artist Sandy GuyThe finished article.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Artists in dark suits at work on the new "Welcome to Paisley" mural in the passageway between platforms 3 and 4.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Artists in dark suits at work on the new "Welcome to Paisley" mural in the passageway between platforms 3 and 4.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Motherwell, Barrie Street Underpass
This is one of four underpasses which connect the town centre shops with the suburbs. Located at the south end of the shopping centre, it passes under the A721 road to Barrie Street, where a ramp leads up to street level.The underpass is adorned by artworks on both sides which are glazed into the ceramic tiles by means of a special technique. This work was carried out by 6247 Public Art Link .
The main 18 artworks feature framed 'paintings' of local scenes and famous local people. The framed artworks are being held, pushed and pulled by monochrome line drawn characters in various poses.
The local scenes depicted are, Storm - Firth of Clyde, Heritage Centre, Aerial 1947, Strathclyde Loch, Motherwell Cross, Old Clyde Bridge Motherwell, Dalziel North Church, Library, Roman Bridge River Calder, Washing Line Windmill Street, The Delburn Falls, McGregor's Mill, Wild Moor and Jerviston Keep.
The local famous people depicted are,
Cathie Gibson (Olympic Bronze Medal swimmer Link )
Sir Alexander Gibson (Conductor Link )
Bobby Ancell (footballer Link ).
Also depicted is Hanah - Autumn (unknown).
Washing Line - Windmill Street and Delburn Falls.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Bobby Ancell, Scottish international footballer.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Motherwell Cross and Storm - Firth of Clyde.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Strathclyde Loch and Bobby Ancell, Scottish international footballer.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Some of the black & white line drawings which complement the 'paintings'.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Cathie Gibson, 1948 Olympics swimming Bronze medallist.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Some of the black & white line drawings which complement the 'paintings'.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
This section of the mural shows 'thumbnails' of the larger sized artworks to be found in the underpass.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Dalziel North Church and Sir Alexander Gibson.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Motherwell, West Hamilton Street underpass
This is one of four underpasses which connect the town centre shops with the suburbs. Located at the west end of the shopping centre, it passes under West Hamilton Street to Mason Road, where a ramp leads up to street level.The underpass is adorned by artworks on both sides which are glazed into the ceramic tiles by means of a special technique. This work was carried out by photographer Susie Baker and designer Bruce Macaulay of 6247 Public Art Link , the same group which produced the ceramic tile mural at the Oak Mall in Greenock Link .
One wall of the underpass features a linear representation of the West Coast Main Line railway and includes photographs of the key towns on the route. The line passes around 100 yards east of this point.
The other wall features a linear representation of the River Clyde from source to sea and also includes photographs of the key landmarks along the length of the river. The Clyde passes around half a mile to the south west of this point.
The Brandon Parade end of the underpass.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
This is the Brandon Parade side of the underpass, with Brandon Post Office above.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
The Mason Road end of the underpass.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
The Mason Road end of the underpass.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
The River Clyde Mural
Nr Little Clyde Farm and Daer Reservoir, near the source of the River Clyde.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Abington and Crawford on the River Clyde.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Carstairs Junction, Thankerton and Lamington Tower on the River Clyde.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Motherwell and Rosebank on the River Clyde.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Glasgow, Rutherglen, Cambuslang and Uddingston on the River Clyde.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Dumbarton, Old Kilpatrick, Dalmuir, Yoker, Renfrew and Whiteinch on the River Clyde.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Loch Long, Gare Loch and Helensburgh on the River Clyde.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
The West Coast Main Line Mural
Glasgow Central and Motherwell stations on the West Coast Main Line.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Lockerbie, Carlisle and Penrith stations on the West Coast Main Line.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Oxenholme and Lancaster stations on the West Coast Main Line.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Preston, Warrington and Crewe stations on the West Coast Main Line.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Stafford and Birmingham stations on the West Coast Main Line.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Coventry, Rugby and Milton Keynes stations on the West Coast Main Line.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Milton Keynes and London Euston stations on the West Coast Main Line.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Motherwell, Merry Street underpass
This is one of four underpasses which connect the town centre shops with the suburbs. Located at the north end of the shopping centre, it passes under the A721 Menteith Street Street. Both sides of the underpass have ramps leading up to street level.The underpass is adorned by artworks on both sides which are glazed into the ceramic tiles by means of a special technique. This work was carried out by designer Bruce Macaulay of 6247 Public Art Link , the same group which produced the ceramic tile mural at the Oak Mall in Greenock Link .
The photographic artworks show world landmarks with tenuous links to Motherwell (such as distance or latitude), presumably intended not to be taken too seriously.
The west end of the underpass at Brandon Place East shopping precinct.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
The east side of the underpass, looking towards the town centre.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
The east side of the underpass, looking towards the town centre.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
The Eiger (3189 metres higher than Motherwell).
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Eiffel Tower, Paris (548 miles from Merry Street) and Grand Canal, Venice (1009 miles from Strathclyde Loch).
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
St Basil's cathedral, Moscow (0 degrees south of Brandon Street) and Sydney Opera House (16,916Km from Motherwell Concert Hall).
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
The Colosseum, Rome (1213 miles from Roman Road) and Rio de Janerio (203 X more people than Motherwell).
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Empire State Building (12.5 X higher than the Heritage Centre) and the Antarctic Coast (-10C average temperature, Motherwell 8C average temperature).
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Prague, Church of Our Lady before Týn (862 miles from Motherwell) and the Sahara Desert (1.14 inches average rainfall, Motherwell 39 inches).
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
The River Nile (39 X longer than the Clyde) and the Great Wall of China (49 X longer than the M74).
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Garscube Road underpass, Cowcaddens, Glasgow
This is one of two pedestrian and cyclist underpasses which link Cowcaddens subway station to the city centre (the other passes under Cowcaddens Road).The walls are adorned by professional graffiti-style murals by the street artist 'Rogue One' Link . These are in the form of shadow puppet animals and the hands which create them.
Greenock Bullring Car Park, North Pedestrian Underpass
This underpass provides a pedestrian link between the car park and the Waterfront Retail Park. It has seen some official and unofficial murals over the years, but in March 2023 a new mural by Magic Torch Comics was commissioned by Inverclyde Council. It depicts local characters in a comic book style.Inverclyde Council and Discover Inverclyde branding.
Discover Inverclyde: Link (or scan the QR code).
Magic Torch Comics: Link (or scan the QR code).
Discover Inverclyde: Link (or scan the QR code).
Magic Torch Comics: Link (or scan the QR code).
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Looking towards the car park.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Looking towards the retail park.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Looking towards the car park.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Looking from the car park towards the retail park.
by Thomas Nugent
Shared Description
Newport, S Wales, Old Green Crossing
These murals are the work of Kenneth and Oliver Budd. They date from 1975 and their future is currently (2023) uncertain as there are plans to redevelop the roundabout under which they are situated. They depict stalls in the nearby indoor market. However with the recent refurbishment of the market, these stalls no longer existOne of a number of mosaics in a pedestrian underpass near to Newport Indoor Market. Link
For another mosaic see Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
by Robin Drayton
One of a number of mosaics in a pedestrian underpass near to Newport Indoor Market. Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
by Robin Drayton
One of a number of mosaics in a pedestrian underpass near to Newport Indoor Market. Link.
For another mosaic see Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
by Robin Drayton
One of a number of mosaics in a pedestrian underpass near to Newport Indoor Market. Link.
For another mosaic see Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
by Robin Drayton
One of a number of mosaics in a pedestrian underpass near to Newport Indoor Market. Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
by Robin Drayton
One of a number of mosaics in a pedestrian underpass near to Newport Indoor Market. Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
by Robin Drayton
One of a number of mosaics in a pedestrian underpass near to Newport Indoor Market. Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
For another mosaic see Link .
by Robin Drayton
The following mural is not in the underpass but alongside one of the approach paths.
Taken from within the Old Green roundabout Link .
In the foreground is part of a mural that dates from the early 1970’s and commemorates the Monmouthshire Railway & Canal Company which contributed to the rapid growth of Newport as a port during the mid 1800’s. The railway and canal passed near to where the roundabout is located.
In the foreground is part of a mural that dates from the early 1970’s and commemorates the Monmouthshire Railway & Canal Company which contributed to the rapid growth of Newport as a port during the mid 1800’s. The railway and canal passed near to where the roundabout is located.
by Robin Drayton
Llangennech, S Wales, A4138 Underpass
The underpass provides safe pedestrian access between the north and south sides of Troserch Road. The mural is the work of Jenks Art Link .A mural depicting Llangennech's history in an underpass in the village. This picture shows a miner next to the now closed Morlais Colliery. Huw Edwards, who grew up in the village is also shown next to the local rugby team's logo. This graffiti art was created by JenksArt.
by Conor MacDonald
Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, Rishworth Road underpass
The underpass links the town centre with the library, Minster and retail parks. Artist Saba Rifat, 2022.This has appeared since my last visit in September 2022 SE2421 : Underpass at the bottom of Rishworth Road. The artwork is titled Tessella by Saba Rifat, and uses 3,000 tiles.
by Stephen Craven
Coventry, Riley Square
On the ground floor of Joseph Latham House, Riley Square, Bell Green, which straddles the entrance to the shopping precinct. Artist unknown. The building is scheduled for demolition.A pair of brightly-coloured murals enlivens the gloomy entrance to the Riley Square shopping precinct from Henley Road. They are painted on the walls of Joseph Latham House, the block of flats which straddles the entrance. This photo shows half of the mural on the northwest side.
Riley Square is named after William or Billy Riley, the local boy who gave his name to Riley Motors and its cars. His son Percy built his first car in 1898 at the age of 16, working in secret because his father, a bicycle manufacturer, did not approve. It was not until 1907 that Percy and his brothers convinced their father to switch from making bicycles and motorcycles to automobiles. The company was bought by Morris Motors in 1938. See Wikipedia Link and Graces Guide Link .
In the background can be seen other scenes of Bell Green life. The pub is the Rose & Crown, which still stands at the top of Aldermans Green Road, although it was rebuilt in the 1950s. To the right, a double-decker tram with an advertisement for Lifebuoy soap descends Bell Green Road towards Coventry city centre.
The other half of the mural can be seen here SP3582 : Riley Square mural, Bell Green.
Riley Square is named after William or Billy Riley, the local boy who gave his name to Riley Motors and its cars. His son Percy built his first car in 1898 at the age of 16, working in secret because his father, a bicycle manufacturer, did not approve. It was not until 1907 that Percy and his brothers convinced their father to switch from making bicycles and motorcycles to automobiles. The company was bought by Morris Motors in 1938. See Wikipedia Link and Graces Guide Link .
In the background can be seen other scenes of Bell Green life. The pub is the Rose & Crown, which still stands at the top of Aldermans Green Road, although it was rebuilt in the 1950s. To the right, a double-decker tram with an advertisement for Lifebuoy soap descends Bell Green Road towards Coventry city centre.
The other half of the mural can be seen here SP3582 : Riley Square mural, Bell Green.
by A J Paxton
Coventry, Pool Meadow Bus Station
This underpass passes under White Street, connecting the bus station with Hillfields. The mural facing the bus station, of Robert Beckford, Terry Hall and others, was painted in 2021 for the UK City of Culture events; the boards have been much vandalised and repaired.A theologian and a pop star flank the entrance to the subway that leads from Pool Meadow bus station and passes under White Street.
On the left is Robert Beckford, academic theologian and TV presenter, who was born in Northamptonshire of Jamaican parents, but spent the later part of his childhood in Coventry, where he was raised in a Wesleyan holiness church and introduced to radical politics by a teacher at Stoke Park School (see this interview, originally from the Birmingham Post and Mail Link ).
On the right is the late Terry Hall, lead singer of The Specials, who were at the heart of the 2-tone music scene in Coventry that is celebrated by Carrie Reichardt's mural on the front of the bus station - see SP3379 : Ska'd for Life: Coventry, the home of 2 Tone.
These two portraits form part of 'In the City of Coventry', a mural along the rear wall of Pool Meadow, where the bus station abuts onto the Coventry ring road. It was commissioned by the city council and painted by local artists including Nathan Parker, Michael Batchelor, Andrew Clare, Richard Inwood, Lee Thompson and Lewis Drage. Other sections of the mural can be seen at SP3379 : In the City of Coventry: Hazel O'Connor and SP3379 : In the City of Coventry: Manjinder Virk.
On the left is Robert Beckford, academic theologian and TV presenter, who was born in Northamptonshire of Jamaican parents, but spent the later part of his childhood in Coventry, where he was raised in a Wesleyan holiness church and introduced to radical politics by a teacher at Stoke Park School (see this interview, originally from the Birmingham Post and Mail Link ).
On the right is the late Terry Hall, lead singer of The Specials, who were at the heart of the 2-tone music scene in Coventry that is celebrated by Carrie Reichardt's mural on the front of the bus station - see SP3379 : Ska'd for Life: Coventry, the home of 2 Tone.
These two portraits form part of 'In the City of Coventry', a mural along the rear wall of Pool Meadow, where the bus station abuts onto the Coventry ring road. It was commissioned by the city council and painted by local artists including Nathan Parker, Michael Batchelor, Andrew Clare, Richard Inwood, Lee Thompson and Lewis Drage. Other sections of the mural can be seen at SP3379 : In the City of Coventry: Hazel O'Connor and SP3379 : In the City of Coventry: Manjinder Virk.
by A J Paxton
There is, if not light, then at least street art at the end of the tunnel. This is the subway that passes under White Street and leads from Pool Meadow bus station towards Hillfields. The other, Pool Meadow, end of the subway can be seen at SP3379 : In the City of Coventry: Robert Beckford and Terry Hall, with more murals.
by A J Paxton
Birmingham, junction of Smallbrook Queensway and Hurst Street
The buildings of Smallbrook Queensway, scheduled for demolition, bridge the junction on angled pilotis characteristic of the early 1960s. My parents had furniture with legs like that. The base has provided a canvas for street art. Molotov cocktails at Animal Farm proved unexpectedly topical in 2022.A pig in Russian army uniform holds spray cans in its trotters and admires its work in this mural at the junction of Hurst Street and Smallbrook Queensway in central Birmingham.
Molotow Burner is a leading brand of spray paint; see the company website here Link . It takes its name from the Molotov cocktail, an incendiary bomb improvised from a glass bottle filled with flammable liquid such as petrol. The name refers to Stalin's foreign minister Molotov and was coined by Finns defending their country from invasion by the USSR in the 1939-40 First Soviet-Finnish War, also known as the Winter War; see Wikipedia here Link .
That Molotov is depicted here as a pig is presumably a reference to George Orwell's anticommunist satire Animal Farm, in which the pigs lead the animals' revolution.
When the photo was taken in early March 2022 the mural had become extremely topical owing to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and news reports of Ukrainian resisters preparing Molotov cocktails.
Molotow Burner is a leading brand of spray paint; see the company website here Link . It takes its name from the Molotov cocktail, an incendiary bomb improvised from a glass bottle filled with flammable liquid such as petrol. The name refers to Stalin's foreign minister Molotov and was coined by Finns defending their country from invasion by the USSR in the 1939-40 First Soviet-Finnish War, also known as the Winter War; see Wikipedia here Link .
That Molotov is depicted here as a pig is presumably a reference to George Orwell's anticommunist satire Animal Farm, in which the pigs lead the animals' revolution.
When the photo was taken in early March 2022 the mural had become extremely topical owing to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and news reports of Ukrainian resisters preparing Molotov cocktails.
by A J Paxton
Birmingham, formerly at St Chad's Circus on the ring road, now at Digbeth
This mural by Kenneth Budd, creator of the Newport mosaics featured in this collection, was created in 1968 for the underpass by St Chad's, the Catholic cathedral, and wantonly destroyed forty years later when the junction was remodelled. How lightly these community art works are wrecked! It was recreated by Kenneth's son Oliver on the other side of the city centre as part of a themed 'Irish Quarter', but is no longer subterranean.This mosaic mural of J F Kennedy, President of the United States of America from 1961 until his assassination in 1963, was designed by Kenneth Budd. It has stood at the corner of Digbeth and Floodgate Street in central Birmingham since 2013.
The original mural was made in 1968 and was a gift to Birmingham by the Irish community of the city, remembering the first man of Irish Catholic heritage to become US President. It was located on the ring road by St Chad's, the Catholic Cathedral (where it can be seen on this photo on Flickr Link ). The rebuilding of this junction in 2007 led to the destruction of the mural (note how easily public art is damaged or destroyed - see for example SP3379 : Medieval map of Coventry).
The new version was overseen by Budd's son Oliver, who worked from his late father's designs. He had salvaged parts of the original mural, but these had faded and were not reused here. A new face was added at the bottom right, that of Mike Nangle, the first Irish Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Depicted in a more realistic style, he looks oddly out of place, a diminutive Irish Brit gazing at these stereotypically larger-than-life Americans, with their wide eyes and pearly-white teeth. See Wikipedia on the mural and its history Link .
The original mural was made in 1968 and was a gift to Birmingham by the Irish community of the city, remembering the first man of Irish Catholic heritage to become US President. It was located on the ring road by St Chad's, the Catholic Cathedral (where it can be seen on this photo on Flickr Link ). The rebuilding of this junction in 2007 led to the destruction of the mural (note how easily public art is damaged or destroyed - see for example SP3379 : Medieval map of Coventry).
The new version was overseen by Budd's son Oliver, who worked from his late father's designs. He had salvaged parts of the original mural, but these had faded and were not reused here. A new face was added at the bottom right, that of Mike Nangle, the first Irish Lord Mayor of Birmingham. Depicted in a more realistic style, he looks oddly out of place, a diminutive Irish Brit gazing at these stereotypically larger-than-life Americans, with their wide eyes and pearly-white teeth. See Wikipedia on the mural and its history Link .
by A J Paxton
For the full picture and description, see SP0786 : J F Kennedy memorial, Digbeth. The mural by Kenneth Budd, originally given to Birmingham in 1968 by the city's Irish community, illustrates Jack Kennedy's Irish Catholic roots with the Celtic cross to the left, while the US flag and presidential seal to the right honour his presidency, cut short by his assassination in 1963. At the far left, Martin Luther King can be seen raising his hat to the first US President to offer substantial support to the Black civil rights movement.
On the Irish in Birmingham, see Richard Vinen, Second City: Birmingham and the Forging of Modern Britain, Allen Lane, 2022, chapter 10. The reconstructed mural was placed in Digbeth in 2013 as part of a themed 'Irish Quarter', which has not been a success; the Irish Club over the road is derelict and boarded up, as is a second Irish social club nearby.
On the Irish in Birmingham, see Richard Vinen, Second City: Birmingham and the Forging of Modern Britain, Allen Lane, 2022, chapter 10. The reconstructed mural was placed in Digbeth in 2013 as part of a themed 'Irish Quarter', which has not been a success; the Irish Club over the road is derelict and boarded up, as is a second Irish social club nearby.
by A J Paxton
Birmingham, Holloway Circus, formerly known as Horsefair
More Kenneth Budd murals in a roundabout well with pedestrian underpasses on the inner ring road. These remain in situ.The mosaic mural on the walls of the large traffic island at Holloway Circus commemorates its earlier name and purpose - Horsefair.
by Graham Taylor
Location of mural and former horse trading. In background is foot of Clydesdale Tower (one of the Sentinels), and to the left, the upper floors of offices at start of Bristol Street (advertising Mercedes cars at the time). See also, SP0686 : Clydesdale Tower, Birmingham and SP0686 : Holloway Circus, Birmingham
by Michael Westley
Birmingham, Hockley Flyover, A41 at Hockley
If you insist on pedestrian locomotion in Birmingham and attempt to navigate the Hockley area you are likely to be sucked into these underpasses. Bill Mitchell adorned them with brutalist murals in the late 1960s when the flyover was built.Hockley Flyover and Circus, the roundabout that the flyover crosses, were built around 1967 SP0588 : Hockley Flyover & Circus, looking towards Newtown. The relief sculptures on the subway entrances were designed by Bill Mitchell, who did a great deal of work in concrete and cement rendering on brutalist buildings of that era, including the Metropolitan Cathedral in Liverpool and the Three Tuns in Coventry SP3378 : Aztec camera. He can be seen discussing his work at Hockley on this Youtube video Link . His enthusiasm for the project ("The Hockley Flyover was one of the greatest things that ever happened in this country") might not necessarily be shared by people who live in the neighbourhood and have to walk through it regularly.
Flyover and relief sculpture have a certain kind of elemental quality, as if the visitor has come upon a monument erected by a lost civilisation.
Flyover and relief sculpture have a certain kind of elemental quality, as if the visitor has come upon a monument erected by a lost civilisation.
by A J Paxton
This is another brutalist subway entrance with a relief mural by Bill Mitchell; see SP0588 : Hockley Flyover and subway entrance and SP3378 : Aztec camera. We are looking north west towards Soho Hill, with the Hockley Flyover to our right.
by A J Paxton
For more on Hockley Circus and Flyover, monuments to 1960s road-building brutalism, see SP0588 : Hockley Flyover & Circus, looking towards Newtown, which also comments on the Birmingham Buddhist Maha Vihara temple under construction by a Sri Lankan movement. The temple now has the framework of a pointed stupa. To the right can be seen a subway entrance with one of the relief murals by Bill Mitchell (see SP0588 : Hockley Flyover and subway entrance), described on Google Maps as 'Brutalist Climbing Walls', though that was not their intended use.
by A J Paxton
Street art of a samurai warrior in one of the underpasses.
He is one of two samurai warriors decorating the walls of one of the grim subways of Hockley Circus, Birmingham.
by A J Paxton
Coventry Ring Road, junction with Upper Well Street and Radford Road
A mural by the prolific local street art painter Katie Sullivan adorns a concrete support of the ring road. A cycle path has since been inserted here. The pigeons are pure performance art.A mural enlivens a bleak underpass, with its pigeon-perch, under the Coventry Ring Road between Upper Well Street and Radford Road. The mural is the work of Katie Sullivan (Katie-O-Art), whose work can be seen elsewhere in the Coventry area, for example at Earlsdon SP3178 : Mural on side wall of O'Toole's Cafe, Earlsdon Avenue North, Coventry and Bedworth SP3587 : Detail of Bedworth civic mural, Mill Street; note the trademark bee in all three murals.
by A J Paxton
Coventry, The Cullen Murals, Lower Precinct
These ceramic murals date from 1958 and were designed by Thomas Gordon Cullen for the new Coventry Precinct and made by Carter's of Poole. During the redevelopment of the Lower Precinct in 2002 they were moved from the upper end to the lower and reinstalled in a covered way that leads to Lidice Place and Queen Victoria Road. During the move parts of the work were damaged and lost. The mural depicts scenes from the prehistory and history of Coventry. It doesn't dwell on the wartime destruction but offers a vision of hope for the future and an appreciation of the city's past. See the article on the Cullen Tiles on the Coventry Society website Link and Robin Stott's shared description on Geograph Link .
First, two images of the murals in their original location.
Fresh as a daisy then, following the post-war redevelopment.
The spire in the background stands above the ruins of the old St.Michaels Cathedral, just one of the many victims of the blitz of 1940.
The spire in the background stands above the ruins of the old St.Michaels Cathedral, just one of the many victims of the blitz of 1940.
by Geoff Royle
This ceramic tile representation of John Speed's 1610 'ground plott of Coventre' once decorated the wall of the ramp between the Lower and Upper Precincts. It has since been lost and, if the original was rectangular, part of it had already been lost by the time this photo was taken. It stood opposite a plan of the post-war redeveloped city ( SP3379 : City centre plan ) which was removed to the other end of the Lower Precinct during redevelopment ca. 2000.
The artist unsurprisingly chose not to retain the 69 point annotations on Speed's original and created an abbreviated set of 10 points: 1 Broadgate; 2 St Mary's Hall; 3 The Gates (separately annotated on the original); 4 Smithford Bridge; 5 Hill Street; 6 Cathedral (actually St Michael's church which wasn't a cathedral in 1610); 7 Much Park Street; 8 Swanswell Pool; 9 Greyfriar's Lane; 10 Bablake Church (St John's Church).
SP3379 : The Precinct, Coventry in 1961 shows the original ramp and the photographer's position is just upslope from the position of the murals.
The artist unsurprisingly chose not to retain the 69 point annotations on Speed's original and created an abbreviated set of 10 points: 1 Broadgate; 2 St Mary's Hall; 3 The Gates (separately annotated on the original); 4 Smithford Bridge; 5 Hill Street; 6 Cathedral (actually St Michael's church which wasn't a cathedral in 1610); 7 Much Park Street; 8 Swanswell Pool; 9 Greyfriar's Lane; 10 Bablake Church (St John's Church).
SP3379 : The Precinct, Coventry in 1961 shows the original ramp and the photographer's position is just upslope from the position of the murals.
by FCG
This map of postwar Coventry survived the move but with a piece missing.
A tiled mural representing the plan of the city centre after post WW2 redevelopment. It was originally incorporated into the wall of the ramp into the Lower Precinct where it stood opposite SP3379 : Medieval map of Coventry. It was moved to its current location during redevelopment of the Lower Precinct ca. 2000. It has lost a few tiles over the years (I suspect a door was cut into the bottom right) but the road layout is quite clear. The cross hatched areas are the pedestrianised precincts. Compare it with the OS map segment.
by E Gammie
This is the new location. They were designed for sunken or covered walkways but are now in a fully enclosed passageway.
The mural was relocated around 2000 to this foyer in the Lower Precinct, where there is access with Corporation Street. The Post War Masterplan panel is behind the camera SP3379 : The Cullen Mural, Coventry: Post War Masterplan.
This image ID:7460518
This image ID:7460518
by Robin Stott
Shared Description
The mural makes reference to Coventry's past and present with images of modern buildings, manufactures and historic buildings.
Image ID: 7459890
Image ID: 7459890
by Robin Stott
Shared Description
( Page < < prev 1 2 3 4 )