Did you know that ‘London has been the home of the largest, most extensive decorative tiling project ever undertaken in Britain’? And it’s nothing to do with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.
For their openings around a century ago, over 90 Piccadilly, Bakerloo and Hampstead (Northern) platforms were festooned with decorative and distinctive tile patterns. Every one of them unique.
Sadly, many of the ceramic murals are long-vanished. But one man is on a mission to unearth and record the patterns. Doug Rose’s labour-of-love is beautifully chronicled on his web site. (It’s been around for a while, and we’re ashamed to say that we only just found it - thanks to regular reader David for the tip-off.)
If you’re as nerdy as Londonist, and this sort of thing makes you embarrassingly moist with excitement, then please affix your keyboard drool-guard now. There’s a book on the way:
This hardback book will include 208 large-format pages, which will allow the details and splendour of it all to come to life. There are 158 drawings and plans all specially produced and 236 photographs, almost all previously unpublished.
You'll never look at the Tube the same way again.
Image taken from Doug’s site. And there are plenty more where that one came from. Copyright 2006. Doug Rose.
