Graffiti
Grove Road Bridge Graffiti
Walking along the far end of Grove Road up towards the crossroads, one could see some graffiti (sadly now painted over again) done by a local artist. It might not have been be to everyone’s taste but it livened up a dark and dank walk along the River Hiz under the rail bridge with colour and style. There have been other more complex pieces previously, but hopefully some new ones will be done again soon.
Hitchin Sainsbury’s
A welcome to Sainsbury’s Hitchin sign just off Winbush Road at the back entrance to Sainsbury’s shop used to have some little bits of graffiti on it. Shame that the top and bottom of the template that the person used spoiled the left figure by overspraying it, but at least it’s different from the usual ‘spray your name’ tag lines that graffiti sprayers usually do. This no longer exists as it was washed off. At least I managed to photograph and catalogue this bit of Hitcin’s social history before it disappeared and was forgotten.
Sainsbury’s Graffiti
Outside Sainsbury’s shop behind Bancroft in Hitchin, is a sign that has had a ‘Love Heart’ graffiti/stencil applied to it. I think it looks quite nice there and has improved a bland and dull sign. There are others dotted around town in usually dull locations and so adds a certain ‘urban’ charm to otherwise unnoticed areas.
Love Hearts Graffiti (Part 2)
Around Hitchin appeared some wonderful graffiti such as this one on the wall that forms part of the car park opposite St. Mary’s Church and the River Hiz. I would much rather have this sort of graffiti than the usual crass ‘scribble your name’ type that seems to dominate anywhere that teenagers hang around. Perahps we have a Banksy of our very own.
St. Mary’s Graffiti
Much to the chagrin of the good citizens of the parish of St Mary’s Church in Hitchin, graffiti has appeared (or I should say more has appeared) on the north door. This is not a modern or ‘new’ phenomenon at all. One should look at the pillars of the door frame on both sides, to see lots and lots of carved graffiti dating back to the 1960s, 1950s, 1930s; even back a hundred years. In churches all around the parishes of Britain, one will find similar graffiti (and going back to 1700 say) Things such as names, love tokens or just dates. The Romans did this too, as did the Egyptians, Greeks, Vikings et al. As the expression goes, ‘There is nothing new under the sun’!
Love hearts Graffiti
Apart from the now ubiquitous and wonderful but decaying ‘Dog Full Of Money’ stickers around town; There now appears some unusual but cute graffiti. Looking very much like ‘Love Hearts’ sweets, they liven up dull, out of the way and unnoticed places such as this doorway usually blocked by Starbucks Coffee Shop’s foul smelling and unsightly rubbish bins to the side of the shop in between Market Place and Churchyard.
Johnny Cash Graffiti
Coming up Hollow Lane there will be found a set of steps towards the top, leading up on to Windmill Hill. There will be found a piece of ‘stencil’ graffiti that looks like Johnny Cash. A serendipitous find when walking Jo-Jo’s dog, Henry.
Thundercats in Hitchin
Hitchin is either blessed (or cursed, depending on one’s viewpoint) with unusual graffiti. This particular example had memories of the children’s animated television series ‘Thundercats‘ come flooding in to my brain and is at the end of bancroft opposite Bancroft Park. Nostalgia and Art, all in one go. ‘Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats, Hoh’