Towards the northern end of Tottenham Court Road can be found a public open space called Whitfield Gardens, which is dominated by a large outdoor painting known as the Fitzrovia mural.
Painted in 1980, the mural depicts various unnamed characters of Fitzrovia and greedy speculators, with the top half painted by Mick Jones (son of the late Jack Jones, trade union leader) and the bottom half by Simon Barber.
Standing over 60 feet high, time hasn’t been too kind to the mural, and it presents rather a sad spectacle these days, with graffiti covering the bottom half and much of the paintwork looking faded.
There is a proposal to restore the mural, led by the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association, and the London Mural Preservation Society.
I wish them well because it would be a real shame to lose this splendid piece of public art.
More info:
[Mural could return to its former grace – Fitzrovia news Sept 2010]
[Iconic London mural could be restored – WikiNews Sept 2010]
[Map location]
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A walk around Fitzrovia, London
The decline of Tottenham Court Road, former electronics capital of London
Restoration work on iconic Brixton Academy mural completed
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