iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by LCC municipal

Antony Carpen @acarpen.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Cambridge, we could have had something like this! (John Belcher, former president of @the-riba.bsky.social also designed an unexecuted building for Cambridge Guildhall in the late 1890s)

051

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Colchester Town Hall from earlier today (I went on a Henry Collins and Joyce Pallot mural mooch earlier - more on that later). Anyway, this rather grand building in the Edwardian Baroque style was by John Belcher and opened in 1902. Reminds me of Alfred Brumwell Thomas’s Woolwich Town Hall a bit.

The view of the building and clock tower from the south east corner. Per Wikipedia:

Construction of the new building began in 1897. It was designed by John Belcher in the Edwardian Baroque style and was opened by the former Prime Minister, the Earl of Rosebery in 1902. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with seven bays facing onto the High Street; the central section featured an arched doorway with the borough coat of arms in the tympanum and flanked by Doric order pilasters. There was an ornate balcony above the doorway and there were also three pairs of huge engaged Corinthian order columns spanning the first and second floors each carrying a broken pediment. Pevsner described the design as having been completed "with more braggadocio than anyone".

A 192 feet (59 m) tower, funded by a donation from James Noah Paxman, the founder of local engineers, Davey, Paxman & Co, was erected at the east end of the building to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It featured four allegorical figures by L. J. Watts representing engineering, military defence, agriculture and fishery. At the top of the tower the architect placed a large bronze figure representing Saint Helena (the patron saint of Colchester) holding the True Cross. Councillor Arthur Jarmin travelled as far as Italy to locate a suitable statue of the saint, but could only find one of the Virgin Mary, which then had to be modified locally. Just below this statue four bronze ravens by Francis Carruthers Gould could be found, representing the portreeve who ran Colchester's medieval port. A chiming clock with five bells was placed in the tower, with another 15th-century bell which is thought to have hung in the original moot hall. The clock is known locally as Charlie, after Charles Hawkins, who paid for it; it was manufactured by Smith & Sons of Derby. The bells, were by John Warner & Sons.

The front of the building showing the main entrance. See previous image for description.

2379

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

From the late ‘60s, a souvenir model of the Post Office Tower (as was). Per the blurb on the back: “The Tower itself is 619ft high including the 40ft steel lattice mast. The aerials and associated radio equipment will eventually provide for as many as 100,000 simultaneous telephone conversations.”

The model of the Post Office Tower taken out of its box. It is largely made from translucent turquoise plastic, and stands on a black plastic base.

The model in its clear plastic box. The model itself is largely made from translucent turquoise plastic.

The blurb on the back of the box in full: POST OFFICE
TOWER LONDON
Facts and Figures
The Tower itself is 619 feet high including the 40ft steel lattice mast. The aerials and associated radio equipment will eventually provide for as many as 100,000 simultaneous telephone conversations and up to 40 television channels.
Total weight, including foundations, 13,000 tons.
95 tons of high tensile steel were used to reinforce the base and 685 tons of mild steel to reinforce the Tower itself.
The two lifts travel at 1,000 feet a minute.

The rear of the box, which features an image of the Tower. For the detail of the blurb on the back, see the previous image.

6387

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

It's not the first time that @mikeyashworth.bsky.social has cost me money! I felt compelled to track down this lovely brochure celebrating Newcastle Civic Centre on his suggestion. This is the 2nd revision from 1972 - municipal opulence of the type you just don't get in the age of value engineering!

3224

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

A bit more municipal treasure. From 1963, a badge celebrating 60 years of Eastbourne Corporation Transport - the UK’s first municipal bus operator. [There were older municipal transport operators, but they had started with trams].

1184

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Today’s municipal treasure: a London County Council London Fire Brigade badge

The enamelled badge has a white centre with a red ring on the outside. The words London Fire Brigade are written in the white centre. The words London County Council are written around the red ring.

1160

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

From 1971, the brochure produced to mark the opening of the BBC's new Birmingham Broadcasting Centre at Pebble Mill. John Madin was the architect and, like so much of his work in Birmingham, it is no longer with us, having been demolished over 20 years ago when the BBC moved into the city centre.

0234

Reposted by LCC municipal

Partizan Dulwich @partizandulwich.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

1941 WW2 Women municipal workers of Bermondsey, London, being trained in rifle drill by members of the local home guard. Southwark @municipaldreams.bsky.social @lccmunicipal.bsky.social @pasttensehistories.bsky.social @history.dulwichsociety.com @womenofsouthlondon.bsky.social Always Anti-Fascist

092

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

An early tenants’ guide from the Basildon Development Corporation. The cover image speaks of a new future and sums up the 1950s optimism of the new towns:

The cover features a black and white photo of a young family looking out across fields and trees. It’s an optimistic photo, implying a bright future or a new dawn.

The title is: TENANTS' HANDBOOK
YOUR NEW HOME IN BASILDON
Second Edition

Photo credit: Uncredited
Taken from: Basildon Tenants' Handbook
Published by: Ed. J. Burrow & Co Ltd on behalf of the Basildon Development Corporation
Date: Undated, but appears to be c1955

A photo of modern two storey houses, presumably taken soon after being built as they look very new and the gardens are not mature. The caption is: Type A and B Houses on Bellevue Estate

Photo credit: Uncredited
Taken from: Basildon Tenants' Handbook
Published by: Ed. J. Burrow & Co Ltd on behalf of the Basildon Development Corporation
Date: Undated, but appears to be c1955

A black and white photo of all the mod cons in the kitchen of a Type D house

Photo credit: Uncredited
Taken from: Basildon Tenants' Handbook
Published by: Ed. J. Burrow & Co Ltd on behalf of the Basildon Development Corporation
Date: Undated, but appears to be c1955

An advert for the local Coop:

NEW PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
A new home in a new town means new plans for your living.
Be sure to include Co-operative shopping.
This way of trading may not be new to you but here in your new home you can count upon first-class service from branches and vehicles — reasonable prices and Full Dividend on all your purchases.
Send for full details of services available to help you to a happy future.
GRAYS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LIMITED
68 HIGH STREET, GRAYS & BRANCHES
The Society that serves - where you save as you spend

Taken from: Basildon Tenants' Handbook
Published by: Ed. J. Burrow & Co Ltd on behalf of the Basildon Development

3202

Reposted by LCC municipal

Stacey Wing @staceynwing.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Lovely, this is in our local library in er West Wickham 😆

1112

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The Borough of Beckenham was granted its Charter in 1935 and would survive for another 30 years before it (together with four other councils) was replaced by the London Borough of Bromley. Croydon Road Rec was the centre of the 1935 celebrations - a location later associated with David Bowie…

The cover of the Charter Celebration book has an interesting modern design. It is divided into two section - one green and one white (the latter looking a little grey with age). The dividing line is roughly on the diagonal although the border between the green and white sections is a meandering line. At the top of the white sections are a collection of green circles, looking a bit like champagne bubbles rising upwards.

The cover features the coat of arms (in green and white) which straddles the two blocks of colour. “1935” is written among the bubbles of the white section, while the rest of the title is on the green section. The title is:
BECKENHAM CHARTER CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK
3d (the price)

Taken from: Beckenham Charter Day Official Souvenir
Published by: Borough of Beckenham
Date: 1935

A black and white photo of the now demolished Beckenham Town Hall. The brick building was dominated by a large clock tower. The Neo Georgian styled building was designed by Lanchester, Lucas and Lodge. It was demolished in the 1990s to be replaced by a Marks & Spencer food hall.

Photo credit: Uncredited
Taken from: Beckenham Charter Day Official Souvenir
Published by: Borough of Beckenham
Date: 1935

A black and white photo of the interior of the Council chamber. The rectangular room has simple classical themes (principally some Ionic columns). Rows of chairs and desks line either side of the room.

Photo credit: Uncredited
Taken from: Beckenham Charter Day Official Souvenir
Published by: Borough of Beckenham
Date: 1935

A hand drawn map of the festivities entitled “Croydon Road Recreation Ground Charter Celebrations, Sept. 26, 27, 28, 1935”

Taken from: Beckenham Charter Day Official Souvenir
Published by: Borough of Beckenham
Date: 1935

1151

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

A guide to the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn’s Library Services from the mid-60s. An interesting stapled addendum is a note informing readers that the library was transferring to LB Camden Library Services from 1/4/65 - an immediate casualty was Saturday opening hours, with an hour lopped off!

The cover of the guide. The title is HOLBORN LIBRARIES GUIDE TO THE SERVICES

It features a drawing of the front elevation of the Holborn Central Library. Per the C20th Society write up: Built by the Holborn Borough Council Architects’ Department under Sydney Cook, the design is attributed to his deputy Ernest Ives and assistants I D Aylott and E L Ansell, in close collaboration with Borough Librarian J Swift.

An extract from the leaflet with a map showing the location of the Central Library and the branch library at the Borough Town Hall on High Holborn.

The text reads:

LIBRARIES
GRAMOPHONE LIBRARY
2nd Floor, Central Library
Open Monday-Friday 12 noon-8 p.m. and on Saturday 9.30 a.m.-6p.m.
Gramophone records may be borrowed for use within the Borough of Holborn only, by societies and groups which can include informal listening groups.
Gramophones are inspected before registration. Language instruction records are also available.
GRAMOPHONE RECITALS are held in the Hall (3rd Floor), Central Library on Mondays from 7 p.m.-8.30 p.m.
Fridays from 12.15 p.m.-2 p.m. and at
the Town Hall, 197, High Holborn, on Wednesdays from 12.15 p.m.-2 p.m.
Monthly programmes are available from both Libraries.
LECTURES are given in the Hall (3rd Floor), Central Library once a month from October-April at 7 p.m. Programmes are available from both Libraries.
PICTURE LENDING SCHEME
Paintings by local artists are exhibited on the 3rd Floor of the Central Library and may be hired for 10/- a quarter or bought outright. Hirers must be members of the Library.
The Libraries Committee also arranges other activities such as an Annual Art Exhibition, concerts, play-readings and
poetry-readings and sponsors the Holborn Society and Holborn Film Society whose programmes can be obtained in the Libraries.

Taken from: Holborn Libraries - guide to the services
Published by: The Metropolitan Borough of Holborn
Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c1963/4

A page from the leaflet. Extract only due to character limit:

LENDING LIBRARIES
Central Lending Library,
32-38, Theobalds Road, W.C.1.
(HOLborn 2705)
198 High Holborn Town Hall Branch Library, W.C.1. (HOLborn 1678)
Open Monday-Friday 9.30 a.m.-8 p.m. and on Saturday 9.30 a.m.-6 p.m.

YOU MAY JOIN the Library if you live, work, pay rates or attend an educational nstitution in Holborn
Your membership season" ticket can only be used in Holborn but you can have, on request, tickets to use in other Metropolitan Public Libraries.
YOU MAY BORROW four books at a time
not more than two novels).
Books are lent for 3 weeks but you can renew the loan if they are not wanted by other readers. You must show your membership ticket every time you borrow or renew a book.
BOOKS ARE ARRANGED on the shelves
in subject number order (non-fiction) and in alphabetical order of authors (fiction).
THE CATALOGUES list the books in both
Lending Libraries.
The subject number is given on the card for cach book in the nonfiction catalogue.
Please ask the Staff for help if you cannot find the book you want.
YOU MAY RESERVE any book listed in the catalogues and books not in stock can usually be obtained.

The reservation fee is 4d. and you are notified by post when the book is available.
A MONTHLY LIST OF NEW BOOKS
added to the Lending Libraries, with select lists of additions to the Reference and
Children's Libraries is on sale, price 3d.

Taken from: Holborn Libraries - guide to the services
Published by: The Metropolitan Borough of Holborn
Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c1963/4

A note stapled to the guide, reflecting that fact that this was a time of major change in London Local Government;

From the 1st April 1965 this library will become one of the Camden Public Libraries.
This affects some of the information given in this guide. Until a new guide is available, would you please note the following changes which are now in operation.
1. All departments of the Holborn Central Library and High Holborn library (formerly Town Hall Branch library) close at 5.0 p.m. on Saturdays.
2. The maximum number of books any reader may have on loan is six.
3. The Book Reservation fee is 3d. and fines for books overdue beyond thethree week period of loan are now charged at the rate of 1d. per day or part of a day.
4. The monthly list of new books added to the stock of the Holborn Libraries has been temporarily discontinued.

Taken from: Holborn Libraries - guide to the services
Published by: The Metropolitan Borough of Holborn
Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c1963/4

3182

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Here is the Technical College badge (presumably):

241

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Today’s municipal treasure: a County Borough of East Ham Home Help Service badge. It sits alongside the EH Technical College badge that I posted a few weeks ago, both featuring the “unofficial” coat of arms of the Borough.

A round metal and enamel badge. The words County Borough of East Ham are written in a ring around the edge in a gold colour on a light blue enamel background. In a white enamel band running across the badge about a third of the way up are the words Home Help Service. The top two thirds of the badge are dominated by the Borough’s unofficial coats of arms.

1131

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Postcards of Newcastle's Civic Centre. The building, from the late 1960s, was designed by City Architect George Kenyon and has a strong Nordic influence. c20society.org.uk/100-building...

1305

Reposted by LCC municipal

Steve Plumb @squaremileguide.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Gosh, I had forgotten my forays to Churchill Gardens.

2121

Reposted by LCC municipal

Stacey Wing @staceynwing.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

@lccmunicipal.bsky.social On Bermondsey Street 😂

1192

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Today’s municipal treasure - a badge featuring the coats of arms of the London Borough of Newham. Newham largely adopted the former Couny Borough of West Ham arms, CB East Ham not having been formally granted them.

A small enamel and metal badge featuring the coats of arms of the London Borough of Newham. The word “Newham” is written across the top.

Per Wikipedia:

The borough adopted West Ham's coat of arms, but with a motto adapted from that of East Ham.

The arms include the following elements:

The crosier signified the Cistercian Stratford Langthorne Abbey.
The sword and the red and yellow chevronells are taken from the arms of William de Montfitchet, a major local landowner and founder of the abbey.
The crossed hammers represent the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, once a major local employer.
The ship in full sail represents the maritime trades and the area's links to the sea.
The arms also include a sun rising in the east.
The borough's motto, "Progress with the People" is an English translation of East Ham's Latin "Progressio cum Populo".

1301

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Two related items here: a cap badge for the pre-65 Borough of Leyton (left), and one for the post-65 LB Waltham Forest (right). Not much of Leyton’s coat of arms made it into the successor’s, only really the black and gold lion at the top (“rampant” for Leyton and “passant” for Waltham Forest).

On the left is the Leyton coat of arms. Per heraldry-wiki: Arms: Or three Chevronels Gules on a Chief Gules a Lion passant Or.
Crest: On a Wreath Or and Gules a Lion rampant per pale Or and Sable supporting a Crozier Gold. Motto:
'MINISTANDO DIGNITAS' - Dignity in service https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/wiki/Leyton
On the right is the Waltham Forest coat of arms. Per heraldry-wiki: Arms: Vert a Stag's Head caboshed proper between the attires an Ancient Crown Or on a Chief wavy Argent three Oak Trees couped proper fructed Or.
Crest: On a Mural Crown in front of a Cross Staff Or a Lion passant per pale Or and Sable; Mantled Vert doubled Argent.
Supporters: On either side a Stag gorged with a Wreath of Oak proper pendent therefrom a Billet that on the dexter Gules charged with an Anchor Argent that on the sinister Vert charged with a Sword point upwards
Argent hilt and pommel Or.
Motto: 'FELLOWSHIP IS LIFE'
https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/wiki/Waltham_Forest

The rampant (i.e. upright) black and gold lion on the Leyton coat of arms. This comes from the Frauncey family arms.

The "passant" (i.e. walking forward). This comes from the Frauncey family arms.

160

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Helsinki City Hall, initially a hotel designed by Carl Ludvig Engel - the original neoclassical style building was radically remodelled and extended by Aarno Ruusuvuori during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

The wide pale blue 3-storey frontage of Helsinki City Hall in a neoclassical style. Per Wikipedia: Completed in 1833, the building originally served as Hotel Seurahuone and was an important cultural facility hosting many premieres. The hotel was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel who also designed the major buildings around the nearby Senate Square. The city purchased the building in 1901 and, after the hotel moved out in 1913, renovated it as a city hall.

Aarno Ruusuvuori’s 1980s extension to Helsinki City Hall. The block is of concrete and glass.

140

Reposted by LCC municipal

Mike @mikeyashworth.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

The tone & text of the leaflet makes clear that this was a 'cry to municipal arms' in the face of the wave of 'pirate' bus operators who were a serious disruption to the order of things in the Capital at the time. One West Ham tram survives in the LTM Collections. @lccmunicipal.bsky.social

Inner three folds - under heading "A few facts about your tramways" are three columns of text explaining the history and development of the undertaking, inc. electrification and expansion, and the finances re; fares and rates. There is also a discussion about bus operators, their numbers and their lack of support for the Borough.

Outer three folds - central panel of the tramcar appears rotated - left panel has fares from Stratford, Canning Town and Abbey Arms inc Workmen's Returns - right panel has a List of Last Cars on services 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 61, 63 and 67. The latter three were jointly operated 'west- east' services from Aldgate across the Borough - the others, some again joint operations, largely were north-south serving the mighty Docks.

0121

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Some Helsinki tram action for you. Here are two of the four main types (so Wikipedia tells me) currently in operation. The first image is of a Škoda Transtech Artic MLNRV-3, while the second is a newer Škoda Transtech Artic X54.

A green and yellow Škoda Transtech Artic MLNRV-3 tram outside the central Helsinki station. Per Wikipedia: In December 2010 the design was included in the winning tender to deliver 40 new trams to the Helsinki City Transport (HKL), the municipal tram operator of Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (HSL), with an option for 90 units more. The winning bid was worth €113 million, which makes the unit cost of the initial agreement €2.8 million per tram.

A green and white Škoda Transtech Artic X54 tray. Per Wikipedia Helsinki City Transport, the predecessor of Metropolitan Area Transport, has ordered 29 bi-directional Artic X54 units for Helsinki light rail line 15 and 23 for the Crown Bridges light rail lines. The first prototype unit arrived in Helsinki in April 2021.

3556

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Municipal guide of the day: the London Borough of Merton from the mid-70s, with the PR department working overtime to shoehorn the contents into a MERTON mnemonic. This also features some of Merton’s distinctive low rise social housing from the era. Oh, and Wombles.

The cover is orange which has faded at the edge to yellow. The word “Merton” is written in a black modern sans serif typeface repeatedly on the diagonal.

Taken from: London Borough of Merton: The Official Guide and Directory Designed by: Ivor Kaplin
Published by: London Borough of Merton (in association with G.W. May Ltd)
Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c.1976

The contents page. The first letters of each section spell out Merton:

Mandate
Executive
Responsibilities
Tomorrow
Oyez! Oyez!
Nostalgia

Taken from: London Borough of Merton: The Official Guide and Directory
Designed by: Ivor Kaplin
Published by: London Borough of Merton (in association with G.W. May Ltd)
Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c. 1976

A black and white image of two children on bikes in front of a low rise social housing development. The caption reads: The latest ideas in housing design are incorporated in new housing estates as shown here at Pollards Hill.

The second photo is of an architectural model. The caption reads: Model of proposed housing development-the Locomotors site Mitcham which will provide 186 dwellings.

Photo credit: Kenneth Markham Studios Ltd
Taken from: London Borough of Merton: The Official Guide and Directory
Designed by: Ivor Kaplin
Published by: London Borough of Merton (in association with G.W. May Ltd)
Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c. 1976

A group of people dressed as Wombles. The caption reads: Local Merton Festival Fans.

Photo credit: Kenneth Markham Studios Ltd
Taken from: London Borough of Merton: The Official Guide and Directory Designed by: Ivor Kaplin
Published by: London Borough of Merton (in association with G.W. May Ltd)
Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c. 1976

0254

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Municipal guide of the day: the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell from the late 1920s, featuring the original Town Hall (the former Vestry Hall), the Sunray Estate and Dulwich Library.

The cover features a black and white photo of St Giles church, Camberwell.

The cover text reads:
The Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell
With STREET PLAN
ED.J. BURROW E CO.LTD. CHELTENHAM & LONDON.

Taken from: The Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell Official Guide
Published by: Ed. J. Burrow and Co. Ltd on behalf of the M.B. of Camberwell Publication date: Undated but appears to be c.1928

Caption: THE TOWN HALL AND GUARDIANS' OFFICES

The original Town Hall building was Edward Power’s vestry hall (per this image) of 1872-3, to a design that combined French Renaissance and Italianate styling. In 1934, when the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell required larger premises, the old vestry hall was extended. Except “extended” doesn’t quite do justice to what happened. The new building, designed by E.C. Culpin and Bowers and constructed in less than a year, engulfed and swallowed up its predecessor.

Photo credit: The Pritchard Photographic Co.
Taken from: The Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell Official Guide
Published by: Ed. J. Burrow and Co. Ltd on behalf of the M.B. of Camberwell
Publication date: Undated but appears to be c.1928

A black and white photo of Camberwell Council’s Sunray Estate. The photo features houses on a road with a wide verge slightly reminiscent of garden suburb designs. https://ideal-homes.gre.ac.uk/southwark/assets/galleries/camberwell/sunray-estate.

Photo credit: The Pritchard Photographic Co.
Taken from: The Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell Official Guide
Published by: Ed. J. Burrow and Co. Ltd on behalf of the M.B. of Camberwell
Publication date: Undated but appears to be c. 1928

Photo caption: DULWICH LIBRARY, LORDSHIP LANE.
Per Wikipedia: A Passmore Edwards Library designed by Charles Barry and Son in Elizabethan Revival style and erected 1896-7. The original single-storey north-west wing damaged during World War II was replaced circa 1950. The building was refurbished in 2013.

MATERIALS: red brick with sandstone dressings, wooden window frames and hipped and pitched slate roofs with brick chimneystacks.

PLAN: an irregular butterfly-shaped plan of two to three storeys and basement. The original plan consisted of a staircase-hall with reading room leading off to the east of the main entrance, book storage to the south-west spanning two storeys, offices on the first floor, a head librarian's flat on the second floor and a single-storey offset wing to the north-west of the main entrance. This north-west wing was replaced following war damage by a two-storey wing with a children's library on the ground floor and a hall above. In 2015 the original part of the ground floor comprised an open access library to both the main rooms and the first floor included staff offices, a wi-fi lounge, a quiet study area and a reference library and offices on the second floor.

EXTERIOR: the north-east elevation fronting Lordship Lane is of three bays and includes three large arched windows on the ground floor with a projected moulded stone sill supported by stone corbels, Tuscan pilaster jambs and segmental stone arches with projecting keystones. The wider panes of glass used here indicate that the lower sections of these window frames have been replaced as the panes originally would have matched the spacing of those of the upper arched section. [extract as character limit reached]

Photo credit: Ed. J. Burrow and Co. Ltd
Taken from: The Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell Official Guide
Published by: Ed. J. Burrow and Co. Ltd on behalf of the M.B. of Camberwell
Publication date: Undated but appears to be c. 1928

1285

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Ted Bieler’s Helix of Life from 1971, outside the University of Toronto’s Medical Science’s building.

Ted Bieler’s Helix of Life is a freestanding concrete sculpture - a representation of the double helix of DNA. Two thin concrete spirals which touch at ground level and two thirds of the way up.

310813

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

The pleasingly retro logo of the Toronto Transit Commission:

0192

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

I didn’t get any further than the main reception, but still got to see some of the nice details inside. Those lovely wooden doors with the T-shaped handles, the great tiled floor and David Partridge’s amazing Metropolis nail sculpture.

The lobby floor is main up of long irregular strips of Italian Carrara marble.

Large wooden double doors in the lobby entrance. The door handles make the shape of a T when the doors are closed (each door having an inverted L shape, with one in reverse, as a door handles)

A curved staircase in concrete with slender wooden handrails

David Partridge’s Metropolis, a large wall mural/sculpture made of nails protruding from the wall. A circular feature is at its centre.

2334

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Viljo Revell’s Toronto City Hall from 1965 - right next door to E J Lennox’s Old City Hall!

Per Wikipedia: The Neo-Expressionist Modern design resembles no other building in Toronto. The design is two curved, asymmetric towers surrounding a saucer-shaped council chamber amphitheatre atop a two-storey podium.

A concrete pillar with VILJO REVELL 1910-1964 ARCHITECT carved into it

Per Wikipedia: Old City Hall was designed by architect E. J. Lennox in a variation of Romanesque Revival architecture known as Richardsonian Romanesque. Developed by Henry Hobson Richardson, this variation highlights bulk and massiveness as well as different sculptural features. The Romanesque style originated in Europe during the 11th and 12th centuries and had characteristics such as square towers, asymmetrical massing, stone carvings, round arches, and heavy stonework. During the mid-1800s, this style was revitalized in Western architecture. H. H. Richardson contributed dormers, circular towers with conical roofs, and the use of different-coloured stone for the revival style that bears his name.

0100

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Today’s reading is this beautiful 2024 book covering NYC’s MTA public art commissions from 2015 to 2023. It’s by Sandra Bloodworth and Cheryl Hageman. I know “lavishly illustrated” is a cliche, but it really is… Featured here are works by Vik Muniz, Xenobia Bailey and Yayoi Kusama. Grab a copy!

The cover features Equal All, a mosaic by Nick Cave. The title is Contemporary Art
Underground
MTA Arts & Design
New York
Sandra Bloodworth
Cheryl Hageman

Copyright © 2024 The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and The Monacelli Press

An image of Xenobia Bailey’s Funktional Vibrations, a colourful work based around circular mandalas with a cosmic vibe.

Text: The Manhattan terminus for the 7 line was the first new station added to the New York City subway system in twenty-five years. 34th Street-Hudson Yards Station, designed by Dattner Architects, opened in September 2015, extending subway service to the Far West side of Manhattan. The station offers easy access to the Javits Center, the north end of the High Line, and Hudson Yards, a part of Manhattan that has been developed at an astonishing speed.
The Hudson Yards neighborhood is now a major destination for shopping, dining, and the arts. The Shed, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, can physically transform to meet the ever-changing needs of the performing and visual arts space. Nearby the High Line Plinth, on the spur at 30th Street and Tenth Avenue, offers a public venue for contemporary art. Nestled among numerous high-rises featuring luxury apartments and office space with waterfront views, art galleries and art fairs are making their home in Hudson Yards too. In an area that until recently lacked subway access and greenspace, Bella Abzug Park, formerly known as Hudson Park and Boulevard, now provides an urban oasis above the station. Glass canopies designed by Toshiko Mori Architects define the station entrances at street level. At the heart of this vibrant new arts scene, prominently featured in the 34th Street-Hudson Yards Station, is the artwork by fiber artist Xenobia Bailey, whose colorful crochet and needlecraft pieces have been featured in exhibitions, television, and film.

Copyright © 2024 The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and The Monacelli Press

Perfect Strangers during fabrication at Mayer of Munich's studio.
Photo: Sammy Hart.

The photo is taken from above and shows a mosaic of a man in brightly coloured clothes holding a book. Containers of brightly coloured mosaic tiles surround the incomplete work.

Copyright © 2024 The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and The Monacelli Press

A two page spread featuring Yayoi Kusama’s A Message of Love, Directly from My Heart unto the Universe, 2022, Grand Central Madison, Long Island Rail Road. It is a mosaic stretching the length of a long underground walkway wall. It features smiling suns, rayed-amoebas, snaking shapes, pumpkins and many dots.

Text: Acknowledged as one of the world's most popular artists, Yayoi Kusama is best known for her compulsive mark marking and installations that walk the line between illusionary and hallucinatory. Kusama's Infinity Mirror Rooms and polka-dot motifs draw a crowd.
Kusama moved to the United States from her native Japan at the age of 27 and spent a formative period in New York beginning in 1958. She was a frequent subway rider, and in November 1968 staged a brief but memorable nude happening in a subway station. The unsanctioned performance piece lasted only a few minutes; she fled when the police arrived.
For fifteen years Kusama immersed herself in the groundbreaking art scene of New York and Europe, but she was unable to gain the level of art world attention accorded her male friends. Kusama later returned to Japan in 1973, and she later voluntarily placed herself in a psychiatric institute in Tokyo where she has lived since 1977. Working daily in her studio across the street, she channels her inner world into brightly colored art. Kusama has a gift for turning her own feelings into a cheertul, spiritual affirmation for others.

Copyright © 2024 The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and The Monacelli Press

1110

Reposted by LCC municipal

Jack Kirby @jdk653.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

@lccmunicipal.bsky.social St Marylebone Borough Council coat of arms on public housing at Chapel Street, NW1.

A tiled coat of arms on a brown brick wall. There is a shield on a pale yellow background and letters in blue 'St. M. B. C.' Below is a street sign: 'Transept Street NW1 | City of Westminster'

1182

Reposted by LCC municipal

Municipal Dreams @municipaldreams.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

O brave new world ...

Artist's impression of motorway through Brixton, part of the London Box

1161

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

The first Labour GLC administration in 1965 had ambitious urban motorway plans. But the public mood had changed by the early 1970s, the lived experience of Westway being one (but by no means only) nail in the coffin of those plans. By 1973, the campaign message was firmly anti-motorway:

A Labour campaign poster from the 1973 GLC election (which Labour would go on to win) featuring a North Kensington residential street overshadowed by the elevated Westway motorway. The text says: Save London
from Motorway Madness
Vote Labour
Greater London Council Election Thursday April 12th

810520

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Another plug for this (it won’t be the last…): Saturday 13th June saw the 213 heritage running day between Sutton and Kingston. Here are my photos from the day, plus the obligatory lecture! lccmunicipal.com/2026/06/20/o...

lccmunicipal.com

On the Buses

Saturday 13th June saw the 213 heritage bus running day, organised by the London Bus Museum. The route has run between Sutton and Kingston in one form or another since 1921, initially as the…

2132

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

It’s Saturday Morning Municipal Street Lighting Nerd Club. Here’s one for fans of 1960s & 70s post top lanterns. All the classics from Phosco, Eleco, Thorn and GEC! From Thamesmead to Brookside Close via many municipal leisure centre car parks…

Six post top lanterns. Left to right: Phosco P178, Eleco PT 1179, GEC Z5713, GEC Z5678, Thorn Gamma 6, GEC Z5680

0121

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I’m not a brand ambassador for www.booksaboutart.co.uk (although happy to be considered for the role, of course…), but they are serving up this book on Resopal, the German plastic laminate (for just £10), and I am slightly obsessed. Some fantastic photos. Link to book in alt text

Blue Resopal in use in a motorway service station in the 1970s

https://www.booksaboutart.co.uk/products/original-resopal-the-aesthetics-of-the-surface-1

Hardcover | 22.86 x 1.91 x 30.48 cm | 192 pp | Jovis | 2006 | 9783939633044

Orange Resopal in use at Bad Neuenahr swimming pool in the 1970s

https://www.booksaboutart.co.uk/products/original-resopal-the-aesthetics-of-the-surface-1

Hardcover | 22.86 x 1.91 x 30.48 cm | 192 pp | Jovis | 2006 | 9783939633044

Resopal used to create murals. Top is an orange/yellow affair showing a simple representation of two people on a background of geometric shapes. Bottom is a blue and green composition, also featuring geometric shapes. Both are Armin Wermann murals at the Kusel School Centre in 1982.

https://www.booksaboutart.co.uk/products/original-resopal-the-aesthetics-of-the-surface-1

Hardcover | 22.86 x 1.91 x 30.48 cm | 192 pp | Jovis | 2006 | 9783939633044

0141

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

The Lost Logos of the London Boroughs. Now updated to include Ealing, which recently retired its old tree in favour of a new tree!

2226

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Lost logos of the London Boroughs: Croydon

1222

Reposted by LCC municipal

Ed Hammond @se13ed.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

There's a great photo from exactly the same angle taken of Camden LBC's *first* council meeting (the chamber is rather busier). This was on the wall at the Crowndale Centre, Mornington Cresc, when it housed the temporary chamber while they renovated Judd St

222

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

From 1965, the Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras’s farewell/valedictory publication “The End of One Story”. It commemorates various aspects of the Borough’s history including the not altogether uncontroversial decision to fly the Red Flag from the Town Hall roof on May Day, 1958.

The cover of the booklet features a St Pancras street scene in sepia tones. The title is: The end of one story, A Souvenir of the Borough of St Pancras

Photo credits: Uncredited
Taken from: The End of One Story - A Souvenir of the Borough of St Pancras Published by: Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras
Date: 1965

THE FIRST COUNCIL. A sepia toned picture of the councillors from the first sitting of the Council in 1900.George Bernard Shaw is second from the right

Photo credits: Uncredited
Taken from: The End of One Story - A Souvenir of the Borough of St Pancras Published by: Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras
Date: 1965

The text is: 1956, A memorial to Karl Marx, buried in Highgate Cemetery, was unveiled,
but not without protests. A Highgate
resident complained: "The cemetery is not the right place for such a figure.
Its presence as a sort of shrine to which thousands of Communists will come every year may cause offence to other users of the cemetery even if it does not lead to undesirable political discussions. Marx had lived in Grafton Terrace and Maitland Park Road. His collaborator, Engels, was nearby in Regent's Park Road. St Pancras was also the home, at one time, of Lenin.

There are pictures of Camden Square and of Yuri Gagarin at the Karl Marx Memorial

Photo credits: Uncredited
Taken from: The End of One Story - A Souvenir of the Borough of St Pancras Published by: Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras
Date: 1965

The text is: 1958 It was a very stormy year. The Council made its historic decision to fly the Red Flag on May Day over the Town Hall. It is doubtful if anyone foresaw the enormous publicity this would create.
On May Day, there were demonstrations outside the Town Hall all day, involving Communists, League of Empire Loyalists, Fascists and many other people with strong views about the matter.
Councillor Lawrence was taken away in a Black Maria after clashes with the police who were out in strength.
Eventually, three councillors and others were fined for breaches of the peace.
The national executive of the Labour Party then suspended Councillor
Lawrence and later expelled him from the Party.
They stated that his 'views are undistinguishable from those of known Communists. This immediately divided the Labour majority on the Council and until the end of its term of office the followers of Lawrence were an independent group.
Councillor Charles Ratchford took over the leadership of the Council.
A much quieter bombshell was dropped
which, in the end, had far-reaching effects.
A Royal Commission on local government in Greater London was appointed. Its proposals. two years later, included the end of St Pancras as a borough.

The Council staged an exhibition on The
the "Lost Theatres of St Pancras".
Arts Festival contained three operas-
"Idomeneo, "Lord Bateman' and
"Theodora'. Another Shaw play was
featured, this time "Candida'.

Chi-Chi, the giant panda, came to
London Zoo and has been a favourite ever since.

There are two photos: the panda Chi-Chi and the red flag flying on the town hall

Photo credits: Uncredited
Taken from: The End of One Story - A Souvenir of the Borough of St Pancras Published by: Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras
Date: 1965

161

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Here’s a 1980 brochure from the GLC telling the story of multiple plans for redeveloping Piccadilly Circus. Various schemes were proposed in the 1950s and 60s - think major demolition, tower blocks, pedestrian and traffic separation etc. - all of which seemed to cause outrage.

The cover has a brown background and includes historical and contemporary photos of Piccadilly Circus together with triptych of an artists impression of a more modest redevelopment planned for the 1980s. The title is: Piccadilly Circus
From Controversy to Reconstruction

Taken from: Piccadilly Circus: From Controversy to Reconstruction
Published by: Greater London Council
Book publication Date: 1980

A black and white photo of an architect’s model of the 1958 scheme.

The caption is: 1958 - THE LCC'S SCHEME
This model gives an idea of the type of development sought by the LCC. A comprehensive scheme linked by bridges for pedestrians above the traffic.

Photo credit: Uncredited
Taken from: Piccadilly Circus: From Controversy to Reconstruction Published by: Greater London Council
Book publication Date: 1980

A black and white sketch of a large tower block dominating Piccadilly Circus. The caption is: 1959 - COTTON'S MONICO SCHEME The artist's impression that set off a furore and culminated in a public inquiry.

Photo credit: Uncredited
Taken from: Piccadilly Circus: From Controversy to Reconstruction Published by: Greater London Council
Book publication Date: 1980

A map of the 1962 Holford Plan. The caption is: 1962 - HOLFORD'S FIRST PLAN
A development of the LCC's advisory scheme

Taken from: Piccadilly Circus: From Controversy to Reconstruction Published by:
Greater London Council
Book publication Date: 1980

2427

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

The London County Council Parks Department brochure for the 1963 season of open air entertainment, which took place across the Council’s various parks and outdoor venues:

The cover of a brochure for the LCC’s programme of open air entertainments in 1963. It features a range of black and white photos of the entertainments in question (e.g. concerts, athletics etc.) set amongst a “crazy paving” style design of red, blue, yellow and green tiles.

14212

Reposted by LCC municipal

Uniformbooks @uniformbooks.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

From 1968 until '78 i lived on the estate next to Sutton Bus Garage, and before that as a very young boy off Stonecot Hill. The number of times i've been on the 213...! Thank you for the photos. My favourite bus is still an RF, and in particular the 80A, between Morden tube and Walton-on-the-Hill.

0141

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Last Saturday saw the 213 heritage running day between Sutton and Kingston. Here are my photos from the day, plus the obligatory lecture! The website has undergone an unexpected emergency rebrand (thank you Wordpress), so please excuse any temporary glitches. lccmunicipal.com/2026/06/20/o...

lccmunicipal.com

On the Buses

Saturday 13th June saw the 213 heritage bus running day, organised by the London Bus Museum. The route has run between Sutton and Kingston in one form or another since 1921, initially as the…

2100

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

FRM1, the experimental rear-engined, front-entrance Routemaster from 1966, seen in Kingston today on the 213 running day. More pics to follow!

FRM1, a red double deck London Transport bus. It is on the route 213 and shows the destination Sutton Garage, with intermediate destinations Clarence Ave, Malden, Worcester Park, Nth Cheam Cheam Vill(age).

0223

Reposted by LCC municipal

Jack Kirby @jdk653.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

@lccmunicipal.bsky.social Vestry of St Pancras plaque, Gloucester Gate Bridge, Camden

An engraved stone plaque set into a carved stone end of a structure. It reads "Vestry of St Pancras / This stone was fixed on the 11th day of August 1877..." followed by names of people involved

1142

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Eugene Rosenberg’s Architect’s Choice is a great book on post-war sculpture, murals and the like in public, civic and corporate spaces. And it offers a reminder of William Pye’s Slipstream in Gatwick’s North Terminal, now lost to retail space!

Architect's Choice
Art in Architecture in Great Britain since 1945
Eugene Rosenberg
Text by Richard Cork

The cover features a colourful abstract(ish) still life from 1983.

WILLIAM PYE
Slipstream 1988
Gatwick Airport
YRM

A cone-shaped sculpture in the centre of a spiral ramp which led to departure gates.

170

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Here’s a recommendation if you have a spare £15. I really enjoyed this, to borrow a cliche, *lavishly* illustrated book on the 1981 Milton Keynes HomeWorld exhibition. There were later exhibitions (e.g. Energy World 1986), which also would be worthy of a book!! www.mkcdc.org.uk/shop/p/homew...

mkcdc.org.uk

HomeWorld 81 - It's What's Happening to Houses — Bradwell Abbey

HomeWorld 81 was the first major housing exhibition held in Britain since the Second World War and developers from around the world were invited to come to Milton Keynes to build their “House for the ...

031

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Two rather lovely postcards here of the Post Office Tower (the correct description for the age of the cards!) by night:

The Post Office Tower by night. The view is looking down south. No publisher is given. Per Wikipedia: The tower was designed by the Ministry of Public Building and Works, under chief architects Eric Bedford and G R Yeats. Typical for its time, the building is concrete clad in glass. The narrow cylindrical shape was chosen as a stable platform for microwave aerials. It shifts no more than 25 centimetres (10 in) in wind speeds of up to 150 km/h (95 mph). To prevent overheating, the glass cladding had to be tinted. The building was completed in 1964.

The Post Office Tower by night. The publisher is J Arthur Dixon. Per Wikipedia: The tower was designed by the Ministry of Public Building and Works, under chief architects Eric Bedford and G R Yeats. Typical for its time, the building is concrete clad in glass. The narrow cylindrical shape was chosen as a stable platform for microwave aerials. It shifts no more than 25 centimetres (10 in) in wind speeds of up to 150 km/h (95 mph). To prevent overheating, the glass cladding had to be tinted. The building was completed in 1964.

2283