HOXTON SIGNS

"E pulveri lux et vis." From the dust, light and power. They generated electricity by burning rubbish.

I’m exhibiting with fifty potters in Ceramics in the City at the Geffrye Museum as part of London Design Week and today I walked back to Old Street station through Drysdale Street, Hoxton Street, Coronet Street and Brunswick Place. The attraction of Hoxton is the modern, design-led businesses in an industrial setting with varied and curious buildings recalling the area’s past trades. The actual purpose of the old buildings isn’t always obvious but some of them still have their names in carved stone, brick or tiles. The lettering is interesting , and  I like old fascias and signs like this. Here are a few I saw on my way.

Still Shaftesbury House but no longer the  Hoxton Market Christian Mission

Gill Sans numbers and tesserae painted over.

The Alexandra Trust Dining Rooms, built by tea magnate Sir Thomas Lipton, to offer "very cheap meals to the poor working classes."

One of Passmore Edwards' many libraries.

The Hop Pole. Well-preserved lettering from c.1890.

The Leysian Mission, a large Methodist initiative begun by Cambridge students. Now apartments.