So there I was, on my way east on our rickety old transport system – I could dredge up some wikistats to tell you there are more passengers on the underground every weekday than bacteria in my nose to prove how amazing it is that it runs at all, but it would be boad of old lollocks – so moving on, it was crowded and a bit rank – why do people who have ingested too much curry the previous night insist on squeezing in next to me? And I’m reading this article on my ipad, only it’s driving me potty because there’s wifi at the stations but not on the train. This means that just as the train is pulling out I regather a signal and manage another half a page before the page disappears again – in this day and age, why do we have station based wifi but not in the tunnels? Sorry this wasn’t meant to be a rant. Or a group of rants. Is there a collective noun for rants? An anger? A fury? Did you know the collective noun for Ravens is an Unkindness? Or for Snakes it is a Trogle? There you go. No, hold the gratitude. So finally we pop above ground and I finish reading. And now I have a new destination.
In this article it said Alfred Hitchcock was born and brought up in Leytonstone in East London in 1899 and there is a homage to the directorial genius in the form of a series of mosaics at Leytonstone tube station. I had time to divert; I had my camera; I needed a new battery for my watch and if there’s one thing that is a constant at outlying tube stations it’s a key-cutting/ reheeling/watch-repair boutique. So I diverted for a little transportative amuse-bouche. I wasn’t disappointed.
The panels are spread along the entrance passages and, well, why don’t we do this more often? Imaginative as well as memory jogging. It must be easy, as a local, to move past these gems as one might if they were mere paper adverts – for Wellman testicle enhancers or Virgin’s latest Organo-friendly Yogilates Exercise and Nail Emporia. But for a newcomer to jolly old Leytonstone, they make you block the passage and gawp. Well I did. It’s just the way it is.
Here they are; each panel tells you which film the image is from on a steel plate, some of which you can read if you enlarge the pictures. But, without cheating, how many can you spot? I managed: North by Northwest; The Birds; Strangers on a Train; Rear Window; Vertigo; Psycho. What about you?
You aren’t likely to go to Leytonstone either by mistake or by design, unless you want a fix of these marvelous panels. But if you are stranded at Stratford, with half an hour to spare and can forswear the consumerist delights of Westfield, well, yes it’s worth the effort to pop along and see for yourself.
Oh, if you want to know the movies you missed, here’s the panel explaining…
TanGental 
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
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Wonderful. Thanks for sharing these. As I’m never likely to set foot in Leytonstone I’d never have seen them.
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You can never say never Mary but life would need to take an odd turn I guess
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Fabulous! I got most films.
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Ah a misspent youth clearly!!
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These are really great – I love how detailed they are.
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I thought of you as I saw them. Your gorgeous posts of the NYC system inspired me!
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I so wish that more places would do this – not all art has to be so elaborate as these lovely pieces, but
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I agree. We are seeing more poetry too all of which I approve
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(oops! hit enter too early by accident)! I was just going to add that my last post about the New York City subway art shows that even found and rescued objects, like architectural details from demolished buildings, can enliven a public space. It was really great to see something that another city has done with subway station art.
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Agreed. Yes I saw that post. Really neat
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Great post Geoff. But don’t knock Wellman testicle enhancers until you’ve tried them! 🙂
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Ah really? Are they of the lift and separate school or do they follow the cup and contain philosophy?
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I like to mix and match. Maybe that’s why I’ve been walking around in circles lately
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Extraordinary – what a lot of thought has gone into them, and well worth it. Much prefer these to graffiti type stuff. Not a Hitchcock fan apart from Rear Window, which I love. Thanks for drawing our attention!
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Yes such an imaginative use of blank walls
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Wow, this is absolutely awesome! Such great mosaics to honor the master! Amazingly done! Fantastic idea!
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I was blown away and annoyed several locals by blocking the passage as I stared at each one
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Haha…. I am so glad you did that, Geoff! This is spectular. I love the idea! Thank you for sharing and risking your life in chasing passers-by away… lol!
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What a great (and fun) post, Geoff. I didn’t know about the Hitchcock mosaics. They’re marvelous! However, what amazed me was “key-cutting/ reheeling/watch-repair” shops… In all the places I’ve lived in the past 25 years, I can’t tell you how hard it is to find something like that.
Saturday hugs!
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Ha! Clearly London is that bit more civilised!!
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Planned obsolescence is in full swing here…
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Those are wonderful! I was able to guess which movies most of them were for. It’s a shame they didn’t include the only one of his films which was filmed in London -The Lady Vanishes.
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They are great and well done. Clearly you are a film buff among your many talents!
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What lovely murals! Definitely worth the trip, and one can get a new battery or house key while one is at it. 😉
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I know- well done Leytonstone
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Geoff I only live about 5 mins away from Leytonstone tube station – we could have met up for coffee! Glad you enjoyed the mosaics though 🙂
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Ah rats. I could have done with a coffee too! What a great homage to a local celebrity
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Certainly worth a trip
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Such a great idea
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Great murals – I was able to identify all but three.
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another with a misspent youth in too many darkened rooms!
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I’ve not been in a London tube station for a decade ir more (no longer live there) and I can’t remember the last time I was in Leytonstone… but they’re a fine collection of mosaics. I’m a Hitchcock fan but I wasn’t able to name many…
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I thought I was a fan but clearly not that much
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Gosh – those are so good, they’re almost worth going into London to see!
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Might as well combine it with a bash!
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Now, there’s an idea…
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It’s always good to see something different when you’re out and about, isn’t it? I probably ought to put a detour to Leytonstone on my agenda for next time I head to London.
As for your collective nouns, hadn’t come across Trogle before (I’ll have to remember that), though you’ll probably gather by now that I knew about the Unkindness.
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Yes I think so. And yes of all people you should know that.
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Ah, my hero – Hitchcock that is. 😃 He’s a true inspiration for me and my writing. The Master of Suspense. I hope to follow in his footsteps one day. I’d probably end up on the walls of some subway that nobody dares not walk (even during daylight hours).
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Yes that’s true. Or pecked to death by seagulls
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Very interesting, our Geoffle! You’re right, we should do more of this kind of thing. Reminds me of the first time I walked up Mullagh hill and unexpectedly found poetry about the local area on signposts along the path.
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Those are little treats I think
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Pingback: Hitchcock and the Underground #London #travels | TanGental – Londontu.be
Interesting stuff – I have just ‘pressed’ this on to my London transport themed website http://www.londontu.be
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THANKS THOMAS
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These are very cool! I think public art is one of the greatest gifts of society.
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These are awesome; I had no idea they even existed. I picked up several, but it shows me I really need to rewatch Hitch’s movies! Thanks for sharing.
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Yes I kicked myself on three that I had completely forgotten about…
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FUN!
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Thank you
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