Erection date: 1899
Site: Ceramic map of rail lines - System (1 memorial)
SW1, Victoria Station
Two delightful large ceramic maps can be found in a tunnel-like walkway between the taxi rank and the Victoria Station concourse. They are separated by an ever-changing array of rubbish/recycling bins. The Suburban lines map is at the taxi end; this System map is at the concourse end.
Hand-painted, these maps were made in 1899 as part of a grand new entrance to the station. We remember seeing them in perhaps the 1960s but for many years they have been hidden from sight by a bank of phone kiosks, and then by a newspaper stand. Our sources have photos of the site showing how the maps were ignominiously hidden away behind station paraphernalia. The maps were revealed again some years ago but were not in great condition.
In 2025 they were restored as part of the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the railways. oversaw the restoration with funding from Network Rail and a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust. The maps were cleaned by and tilemaker was called on to remake some damaged tiles.
Just as with any good map these reward close examination, especially if you know the area they cover.
Sources include: , , .
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