Continuing our series on London's greatest murals.
One should never make assumptions, but we feel confident in declaring this to be the greatest mural in the world to feature Michael Heseltine riding a cruise missile.
The former Deputy Prime Minister is joined by Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Yuri Andropov in a literal nuclear arms race around the world. Very Doctor Strangelove.
As you might guess from the characters involved, this stupendous mural is more than 40 years old. It was painted in 1984 by the late, great Brian Barnes, whose work includes the similarly themed Nuclear Dawn mural in Brixton. He was helped by Paul Butler, Pauline Harding, Carol Kenna, Stephen Lobb, Dale McCrea and Ray Walker.
The Riders of the Apocalypse is not a work of art most people will just stumble across. To find it, you must wander far from any tube station to the eastern end of Cold Blow Lane, between New Cross and Surrey Quays. Even then, the mural is far from obvious. It's tucked away at the end of the Sanford Housing Co-op, and largely obscured by trees and hedges.
The mural is very much of its time. The Four Statesmen (and Iron Lady) of the Apocalypse are met by symbols of peace, including a dove and a CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) logo. The artwork reflects an era when people's biggest fear was the prospect of nuclear war — as opposed to now, when this is just one of many existential threats tugging on our collective psyche.
The Doctor Stangelove-riffing missile riders aren't the only Kubrickian reference in the mural. Look to the top left and you'll see a space baby, as featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The mural was funded by the Greater London Council as part of its Peace Year in 1984. The GLC's leader at the time, a certain Ken Livingstone, was immersed in an ongoing spat with Margaret Thatcher. The Prime Minister would abolish the GLC a couple of years later. It's tempting to speculate that this mural, depicting Thatcher as a warmonger, played a small part in that decision.
While flaking in places, the mural is still in very good condition, its colours bold and clear like the day it was painted. Well worth a look if you're ever in this part of town.
Riders of the Apocalypse, junction of Sandford Street and Cold Blow Lane, SE14. Nearest stations New Cross and Surrey Quays.
