Every street around the Grenfell Tower holds its memorials.
The Grenfell Tower in North Kensington caught fire on 14 June 2017. At least 72 people lost their lives in the tragedy.
Almost immediately, the tributes appeared. Flowers, photographs, hand-written messages on nearby fences and, everywhere, green ribbons, leaves and hearts.
More than four years on and the area is still home to dozens of memorials, some informal, others carefully organised and maintained. Some pay gentle tribute to lives lost; others call for justice and reform. Even now, it's impossible to walk around the area without a lump in your throat because, above it all, the Grenfell Tower still stands, shrouded in white wrap while it awaits demolition.
Grenfell Tower Memorial Wall
One of the largest organised memorial sites lies in the sunset shadow of the Grenfell Tower, beside Kensington Leisure Centre. Here we find the adapted tube roundel shown in our top image, as well as many other tributes.
Much of what you see here was arranged by arts charity ACAVA in partnership with Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre. The wall is regularly updated with new mosaics, messages and even commemorative olive and box trees. Space has been left around these tributes for visitors to add their own flowers, photographs, prayers and memories. These are plentiful.
The memorial wall is only a temporary structure. Once the tower has been demolished, it too will be removed, and replaced by a permanent memorial to the lives lost in 2017.
Under the Westway
A second major memorial site lies beneath the Westway, the great concrete overpass that snakes through the area. Here, on Kingsdown Close, we find the Maxilla Space and community centre. This area provided a refuge for residents and neighbours of Grenfell in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. It's since played an ongoing role in the campaign to find justice for those affected.
Every inch of wall and column is painted with tributes to the Grenfell victims. Pride of place is the Wall of Truth, a space for collecting first-hand accounts of the fire. Elsewhere, murals call for housing reform, and putting people before profit.
The space even includes an old piano that's clearly led a colourful life.
Ladbroke Grove
One of the more artistic memorials can be found opposite Ladbroke Grove underground station. Here, a mural composed of ceramic leaves makes an arresting addition to part of the railway bridge wall (note also the green for Grenfell ribbon on the foreground tree — many can be found in the area).
Surprisingly little information about the mural can be found online, though it appears to have been put together by local ceramicist Paprika Williams with help from the community.
Other tributes
The area is peppered with further tributes to the Grenfell disaster. The immediate neighbourhood has memorials along every street of one form or another. Green painted leaves resembling butterflies are everywhere. The steps of the local Methodist church carry numerous personal tributes.
The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission is collecting thoughts to help shape the permanent memorial that will one day be erected on the Grenfell site. You can learn more about its progress and contribute your own thoughts over on its website.
