Foxborough gardens murals

Two beautiful murals in the entrances to two six-storey housing blocks in Foxborough Gardens in Lewisham are currently being restored by HOLT.

The concrete mural has just been re-painted by conservators from Taylor Pearce, the colours were carefully selected to match the latest iteration of the mural. Local people and children were invited to help finish the job!

The timber mural has been taken away for conservation by Temple Studios and will be reinstated in a few weeks’ time.

The murals were created between 1957 and 1963 by artist William Mitchell (1925 - 2020) who was commissioned by the London County Council to decorate the block entrances of the new housing. The timber mural is made from offcuts of wood and bits of old furniture - bannisters, dado rails and chair legs - arranged on baseboards and sanded down and varnished. It depicts abstract forms of birds, fountains, castles and sunbursts. The other mural is made from concrete (poured concrete into a clay matrix) and is more purely abstract. The concrete mural was painted in bright colours in subsequent decades. In total, Mitchell produced around 100 pieces of public art in London. Over fifteen of his works now have Grade II or Grade II* listed status.

The project has been supported by HOLT, the Pilgrim Trust, Foxborough Gardens residents and Lewisham Council and will be finished in December. Local children have been involved in the project as part of HOLT’s Proud Places programme.