Save the Southampton Central Mosaic
I was just boarding the train back to Southampton at Clapham Junction when an email landed in my inbox asking if I’d heard anything about the destruction of the mosaic murals at Southampton Central station. This lovely slice of 1980s mosaic art brightens up the otherwise dreary overbridge which connects both sides of the station to the island platforms in between. It was with my heart in my mouth that I sped back through Hampshire to see that South West Trains had taken the sledgehammer to the nautical themed tiles along the staircase side of the bridge. Fortunately the mural is in tact for now but, without a voicing of public support, how long will that stay the case? The gleaming white tiles which have replaced the mottled blue and cruise ship themed tiles on the staircase side now threaten to replace the entire mural.
The mosaic mural is over 100ft long, running the length of the overbridge which is heavily used throughout the day. The design by Sue Ridge, whose other work adorns Euston station and Heathrow Airport, won a competition held in 1988 by British Rail and the Public Art Development Trust. The main section includes motifs ranging from the double-arrow logo of BR and the red-and-blue chevrons of Network SouthEast to the cranes, sails and propellers which echo Southampton’s nautical position on the Solent. In addition to the main mural the staircases leading to platforms 1 and 4 are tiled with a blue-and-white mosaic which carries the watery theme down to the platform level. Until now there had also been tiles on the other side of the bridge but these have been cruelly destroyed by SWT.
South West Trains earlier this year removed the original wooden bannisters from the stairs leading to the bridge and now they have set about smashing and removing some of the supplementary mosaics. The small metal plaque which commemorated the unveiling of the mural has also disappeared this week from platform 1. These mosaics are not listed and there is nothing to stop SWT setting to them with a sledgehammer if they wish. It is only through public awareness and pressure from passengers and visitors that SWT will be encouraged to preserve, rather than destroy, this bright and cheerful welcome to Southampton. Six million commuters, local residents and cruise passengers pass through this station every year and they all benefit from the cheerful, locally themed public art which brightens up the station.
You can let them know you want to the mural to be preserved by signing this petition and by contacting South West Trains directly. Long live the overbridge mural!
