List of public art in the London Borough of Newham facts for kids
The London Borough of Newham is a cool place in East London, and it's full of amazing public art! Public art means sculptures, murals, and other artworks that you can see and enjoy in public spaces, like parks, streets, or outside buildings. These artworks often tell stories about the area, its history, or important people. Let's go on a tour to discover some of the awesome art pieces you can find in Newham!
Contents
Bromley-by-Bow
This area has some interesting historical artworks.
Statue of Corbet Woodall
You can find a statue of Sir Corbet Woodall at Twelvetrees Crescent. He was an important gas engineer. This statue was made around 1926 by an artist named Arthur George Walker. It's a special statue because it's "Grade II listed," which means it's protected for its historical importance.
Gas Light and Coke Company War Memorial
Also at Twelvetrees Crescent, there's a war memorial dedicated to the Gas Light and Coke Company. It includes a memorial column with a gas lamp and a rotunda (a round building). These pieces are also "Grade II listed," remembering people who served in wars.
Canning Town
Canning Town is home to some really unique and modern sculptures.
Memorial to Bradley Stone
.jpg)
At Peacock Gym on Caxton Street North, there's a statue remembering Bradley Stone. It was created by Ann Downey and unveiled in 1995.
DNA DL90
Near Bow Creek, you'll spot a very unusual sculpture called DNA DL90. It was made by Abigail Fallis in 2003. This sculpture is 9.3 meters (about 30 feet) tall and looks like a giant double helix, just like the structure of DNA! But here's the cool part: it's made out of 22 shopping trolleys! The artist used the trolleys to represent modern shopping culture.
Alphabetti Spaghetti
At Caxton Works, look out for Alphabetti Spaghetti by Alex Chinneck, created in 2019. This fun sculpture shows a pillar box (a British mailbox) tied in a knot! It's one of several similar artworks the artist has placed around the country.
Custom House
This area features a very long and interesting mural.
Newham Trackside Wall (second section)
Along Victoria Dock Road, you can see part of the Newham Trackside Wall. This mural, created by Sonia Boyce between 2016 and 2021, features panels with images, personal stories, and information about the area. It runs alongside the Elizabeth line train tracks. Both sections of this artwork together are 1.9 kilometers (about 1.2 miles) long, making it one of the longest artworks ever made in the UK!
East Ham
East Ham has a significant war memorial.
Central Park War Memorial
In Central Park, you'll find the Central Park War Memorial, a cenotaph (a monument honoring people whose bodies are elsewhere). It was built in 1921 by Robert Banks-Martin, who was the mayor of East Ham during the First World War. This memorial is also "Grade II listed."
Forest Gate
Forest Gate is home to a unique architectural sculpture.
The Preacher
_by_Peter_Laszlo_Peri.jpg)
At Forest Gate Methodist Church on Woodgrange Road, there's a sculpture called The Preacher. It was made by Peter Laszlo Peri in 1961 and is part of the church's architecture. It's also a "Grade II listed" artwork.
Manor Park
Manor Park features a bust of a famous figure.
Bust of Andrew Carnegie
On the Rabbits Road wall of the former Carnegie Library in Manor Park, you can see a bust (a sculpture of someone's head and shoulders) of Andrew Carnegie. He was a very rich businessman who gave a lot of money to build libraries around the world. This sculpture was made in 1904 and is "Grade II listed."
North Woolwich and Silvertown
These areas have several important memorials and a mural.
Silvertown War Memorial
.jpg)
At Royal Wharf on North Woolwich Road, there's the Silvertown War Memorial. This pillar-shaped memorial was created around 1920 by Thomas Arthur Darcy Braddell. It was moved to its current spot in 2016 and is "Grade II listed."
St Mark's Church War Memorial
At the Brick Lane Music Hall, you can see the St Mark's Church War Memorial. This Celtic cross-shaped memorial was made around 1920 and moved here in 1991. It's also "Grade II listed."
Brick Lane Music Hall mural
Also at the Brick Lane Music Hall, there's a colorful mural that was painted in 2004.
Newham Trackside Wall (first section)
Similar to the Custom House section, the first part of the Newham Trackside Wall by Sonia Boyce can be found along Connaught Road and Albert Road. It also features panels with images and stories about the area, running alongside the Elizabeth line.
Plaistow
Plaistow has a war memorial with a special history.
West Ham Corporation Tramways War Memorial
On Greengate Street, you'll find the West Ham Corporation Tramways War Memorial. This memorial, designed by J. F. Richards around 1920, remembers those from the tram company who served in the war. It is "Grade II listed."
Royal Docks
The Royal Docks area is home to some impressive and modern sculptures.
Landed
.jpg)
At the Excel Centre in Royal Victoria Dock, there's a group of sculptures called Landed. Created by Les Johnson in 2009, these sculptures likely represent dock workers, celebrating the history of the area.
Bird Boy (without a tail)
,_Royal_Victoria_Dock,_London.jpg)
On the Royal Victoria Dock, you can see Bird Boy (without a tail) by Laura Ford, made in 2011. It's a sculpture of a child dressed in a bird costume, standing on a floating platform. It's quite a charming and thoughtful piece.
Athena
Outside London City Airport, stands Athena by Nasser Azam, unveiled in 2012. This huge bronze statue is 12 meters (nearly 40 feet) tall, making it the tallest bronze sculpture in the UK! The artist, Nasser Azam, grew up in the Newham area.
Types of Happiness
At the Royal Docks, look for Types of Happiness by Yinka Ilori. These two sculptures, created in 2019 and installed in 2023, are 10-foot-tall chairs decorated with colorful patterns inspired by African wax prints. They are meant to represent happiness and pride.
Stratford
Stratford, especially around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, has many famous artworks.
Statue of William Shakespeare
.jpg)
At the University of East London Stratford Campus, there's a statue of the famous writer William Shakespeare. This statue, made in 1840 from a special material called Coade stone, was originally for an opera house. It was given to Stratford in 1925 and is "Grade II listed."
Samuel Gurney Memorial Drinking Fountain
On Broadway, you'll find the Samuel Gurney Memorial Drinking Fountain, an obelisk (a tall, four-sided pillar) created by John Bell in 1861. It's a "Grade II listed" monument.
Memorial to the Stratford Martyrs
.jpg)
At St John the Evangelist Church on Broadway, there's a memorial to the Stratford Martyrs, made in 1878 by J. T. Newman. It remembers people who were persecuted for their beliefs. This memorial is also "Grade II listed."
Memorial to Edith Kerrison
On The Grove, there's a memorial to Edith Kerrison, created by Christine Gregory in 1936. Edith Kerrison was important because she was the first female councillor (like a local government official) in West Ham.
Memorial to Gerard Manley Hopkins
.jpg)
Outside Stratford Library on The Grove, you can see a commemorative stone for the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins. It was unveiled in 1994 on the 150th anniversary of his birth. His birthplace was nearby, but the house was destroyed during World War II.
Railway Tree
On Stratford High Street, there's a sculpture called Railway Tree, made by Malcolm Robertson in 1996.
ArcelorMittal Orbit
One of the most famous landmarks in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the ArcelorMittal Orbit. This huge, twisting sculpture was designed by Anish Kapoor with Cecil Balmond and opened in 2012 for the Olympic Games. You can even slide down it!
Carpenters Curve
Also in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, you'll find Carpenters Curve, a mural created by Clare Woods in 2012.
Danes Yard Tower
At Danes Yard, next to the Three Mills Wall River, stands the Danes Yard Tower, sometimes called the Olympic Torch sculpture. This 40-meter (about 130 feet) tall tower, made of wood and steel, was built in 2012 by ARC-ML Architects and lights up at night with LEDs.
Stratford Shoal
Inside the Stratford Centre, there's a sculpture called Stratford Shoal, created by Studio Egret West in 2012.
Untitled (D. J. Simpson)
In the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, there's an untitled mural by D. J. Simpson from 2012.
Statue of Joan Littlewood
In Gerry Raffles Square, outside the Theatre Royal Stratford East, you'll see a statue of Joan Littlewood. She was a very important theatre director. The statue was made by Philip Jackson and unveiled in 2015.
Three Mills
The historic Three Mills area also has some modern art.
Untitled (Juniper)
At House Mill, Three Mills, there's a sculpture called Untitled (Juniper) by Virginia Overton, made in 2014. It's a weather vane (a device that shows wind direction) made of steel and gold leaf, shaped like a juniper tree. This is a nod to the artist's background and a former gin distillery that used to be at Three Mills.
A Moment Without You
Also at Three Mills, you can find A Moment Without You by Tracey Emin, created in 2017. This artwork features five bronze sculptures of birds placed on tall poles.
Reaching Out
On Three Mills Green, there's a powerful statue called Reaching Out by Thomas J. Price, made in 2020. This 9-foot-tall, 420-kilogram statue is of a Black woman. It's special because it's not based on one real person but is a mix of different ideas, and it's the first sculpture of a Black woman in the UK made by a Black artist.
Upton Park
Upton Park celebrates football history with a famous sculpture.
World Cup Sculpture ("The Champions")
.jpg)
At the junction of Barking Road and Central Park Road, you'll find the World Cup Sculpture, also known as "The Champions." This group of sculptures, made by Philip Jackson in 2003, features famous English footballers Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, and Ray Wilson, celebrating their 1966 World Cup win.
West Ham
West Ham has a unique war memorial.
Crockett's Leathercloth Works War Memorial
.jpg)
At the junction of Abbey Road and Mitre Road, there's the Crockett's Leathercloth Works War Memorial. This pylon (a tall structure) with a sculpture was created after 1918 and is "Grade II listed." It remembers those from the leathercloth factory who served in the war.
Images for kids
-
ArcelorMittal Orbit at night
