Mosaic gets new lease of life – and a special day to mark its restoration

Created around 1929, there is a 43-foot-long mosaic in Southfields harks back to the earliest days of coach holidays.

Those were the days when the United Transport Company offered Londoners affordable excursions to the countryside, coastal resorts and horse racing meets.

It is a unique survivor, the company’s other London facilities having long-since been lost.

It had been under huge threat of decay, unloved and uncared for, but has been rescued and restored by a combination of concerned local residents and the Heritage of London Trust (HOLT) an organisation dedicated to preserving amazing local landmarks just like this.

Its restoration by London Stone Conservation on behalf of the Heritage of London Trust has been deemed a great success and has returned the mosaic sign to its former glory as it approaches its 100th anniversary.

The restoration project has been made possible with the generous support of the Jones Day Foundation, HR Owen, The Sutton Byre Charitable Trust, Southfields Grid Residents’ Association and its Chair, Charles Runcie, and two local residents Clive Williams and Diane Allerton.

The mosaic in Merton Road is due to be unveiled at a special ceremony at 10am on Tuesday, which local residents are invited to attend.

Pictured top: Restoration work being carried out on the sign (Picture: Heritage of London Trust)