This week’s publication relates to a subject matter that my London Shoes touched upon very lightly the other week, when I visited the Leytonstone district of East London on the quest of undertaking another blog topic.
However, I’ve always been a big admirer of this particular ‘lesser known’ display of street art (I think that’s the best way of describing it) – and as a result, I really wanted to capture its existence within its very own Shoes blog article.
So – this week’s subject matter is:-
The “ALFRED HITCHCOCK MOSAICS at LEYTONSTONE TUBE STATION”
Leytonstone is approx 10 miles from central London. Leytonstone tube station is on the Central Line (ie the Red one on a standad London Tube Map).
Leytonstone is the birthplace of legendary film director “Alfred Hitchcock” who on the 13th August 1899, was born in a room above his father’s grocery & poultry shop at 517 High Road Leytonstone.
Hitchcock lived and worked in London right up until 1939, when he officially moved to the United States.
In 1999, to commemorate what would have been Hitchcock’s 100th birthday – Waltham Forest Council commissioned the ‘Greenwich Mural Workshop’ to design and produce 17 glass tiled mosaics depicting Hitchcock and his legendary films.
These mosaic ‘tributes’ to Leytonstone’s famous son can be found at Leytonstone tube station where they are displayed on the passenger walkway that connects the exit/entrance at Church Road to that of Grove Green Road.
The mosaics took 7 months to design and construct and are based on interpretations of the films by the artists who made them – not replicated from any film sequence or still.
Of the 17 mosaics, 14 depict his legendary films – whilst 3 represent Hitchcock’s personal life (ie as a child and as a film producer).
These amazing works of art represent the following Sir Alfred Hitchcock films:-
>>Birds (1963)
>>Psycho (1960)
>>Rear Window (1954)
>>Vertigo (1958)
>>North by North West (1959)
>>To Catch a Thief (1955)
>>The Skin Game (1931)
>>Saboteur (1942)
>>Suspicion (1941)
>> Strangers on a Train (1951)
>>The Pleasure Garden (1925)
>>The Wrong Man (1956)
>>Rebecca (1940)
>>No.17 (1932)
The Hitchcock mosaics were officially unveiled at Leytonstone tube station in 2001 – and are still in situ today (2026) and looking good and eye catching.
I have to say, my London Shoes found it a bit of a challenge attempting to photograph the mosaics as the pedestrian walkway where they are displayed, is always busy with people getting on and off the tube – so I found myself sort of getting in the way of folk trying to get past me at speed.
The trouble is, like most street artworks out there on our streets, even some of the best graffiti and wall murals etc – just get taken for granted, as people trapse by them every day without taking any notice whatsoever – and lets face it, using the Leytonstone mosaics as an example – a good majority of those people walking past them everyday, probably wouldn’t even know who Alfred Hitchcock was, let alone his connection to Leytonstone.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this piece, I was actually in Leytonstone undertaking a different blog topic – I got there late afternoon, when it was light – and left there late evening, when it was pitch black – so there is a bit of light & dark contrast to some of the photos that accompany this piece.
Sir Alfred Hitchcock’s childhood home – that was once his father’s shop – was at 517 High Road Leytonstone – it was demolished in the 1960’s – and today a petrol garage stands on the site – but, tucked away on the garage forecourt wall, there is a small insignificant blue plaque that commemorates the fact that Sir Alfred Hitchcock was born there. Again – I wonder how many of the garage customers / people passing by / the local community – are actually aware of its existence, and what it stands for!!! – not their fault I know, but its a shame.
Right next to the garage site where Hitchcock was born, there is a building on the corner which has a Hitchcock mural depicting his famous 1963 released “Birds” film displayed all over it – and on the pavement surrounding that building there are black silhouettes of ‘birds’ flutter about the place……a nice little touch I thought.
On an external wall of another building nearby to the petrol garage ‘plaque’, I stumbled upon another Hitchcock street art mural – so I guess there are a few folk out there who acknowledge Alfred Hitchcock’s association with Leytonstone.
Leytonstone is an area I know well and have a lot of love for, as 839 Leytonstone High Road branch of Barclays Bank was where I started work as a 16yr old way back on 13th August 1973…..ironically, exactly 74 years after Alfred Hitchcock’s birth there on 13th August 1899 – how spooky is that!!! Perhaps they’ll be a plaque there commemorating me one day, when I’ve ‘gone’.
Anyway – I did 2 stints at Barclays Leytonstone – initially 1973 to 1974 and then again from 1984 to 1986.
During that time, and anyone who ever worked a till at Bank back in those times would know that every Friday, all the local pubs would telephone first thing in the morning to give their ‘change order’ for all the coinage they needed for the weekend business. Later in the day, bar staff would turn up to lug away all the bags of silver and copper they had ordered.
Now – one of the pubs that used to phone in their ‘change order’ every Friday, when I worked at Leytonstone, was a pub called ‘The Heathcote’ that was situated round the back of Leytonstone tube station, in Grove Green Road.
So – whilst I was in the vicinity I thought I’d go check out to see if the old pub Heathcote was still there (I mean, it was over 50yrs ago) – and lo & behold, it was still standing.
However – from chatting to a local inside the pub, I learnt that there was a time in recent years that The Heathcote was very close to closing down, like many of the other wonderful old pubs that always seemed to be on the corner of every East London street.
The pub was originally opened as the Heathcote Arms & Hotel in 1905 – built in an Elizabethan style with ornate tiling and sculptures.
In 2014 the pub was closed by its owners, with a view to selling it to developers so that the building could be converted into residential flats. However, planning permission had not been officially granted for the change of use.
These proposals caused such outrage throughout the local community, that with support from various celebs, an action group was formed, and an application submitted through the necessary channels, to make the Heathcote an ‘Asset of Community Value’ – which, fortunately, was granted in 2015. With its future secured, the pub was given a massive refurb make-over and reopened in 2017 as “The Heathcote & Star”.
It was good to see this old pub from my past, still standing and doing it’s stuff – and I enjoyed a nice couple of ‘gold watches’ in there – although the bar maid looked at me rather worriedly when I started talking to her about ‘change orders’ !!!
Anyway – hope you enjoyed my little London Shoes story about the Alfred Hitchcock-Mosaics at Leytonstone tube station and its accompanying photos.
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Below is the entire gallery of photos taken to accompany this Alfred Hitchcock blog article
The ‘Alfred Hitchcock-Mosaics’ can be found displayed throughout te public walkway between the 2 entrances/exits at Leytonstone tube station. Leytonstone is approx 10 miles from central London. Leytonstone tube station is on the Central Line (ie the Red one on a standad London Tube Map).
A Central Line tube train arriving at Leytonstone station
The Church Street entrance/exit of Leytonstone tube station – you can just about see one of the Alfred Hitchcock mosaics on one of the exterior walls
A plaque recognises the individual artists who contributed to the design and build of the 17 ‘Hitchcock’ mosaics displayed throughout the station walkway
Hitchcock’s 1955 released ‘To Catch a Thief’ mosaic at the Church Street entrance to Leytonstone tube station
One of the 17 ‘Hitchcock’ mosaics on display at Leytonstone station, depicts Alfred as a child, on a horse outside his father’s shop and family home at 517 Leytonstone High Road
Me & my London Shoes down amongst the Hitchcock mosaics at Leytonstone station.
‘The Skin Game’ (1932) mosaic on display at Leytonstone station
The Alfred Hitchcock mosaics are displayed on the passenger walkway that connects the exit/entrance at Church Road to that of Grove Green Road.
How Hitchcock’s legendary ‘Birds’ film is commemorated at Leytonstone station
Me & my London Shoes down on the passenger walkway at Leytonstone station – with Hitchcock’s 1941 ‘Suspicion’ film mosaic in the background
The mosaic for Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 ‘North by North West’ film
The mosaic representing Hitchcock’s epic ‘Psycho’ film that was released in 1960
Me & my London Shoes with the Psycho mosaic in the background
Hitchcock’s 1941 film ‘Suspicion’ – as depicted down on the passenger walkway at Leytonstone station
This mosaic is larger than the others and portrays Alfred Hitchcock as a film director
The mosaic representing Hitchcock’s strangely titled ‘No.17’ film released in 1932
Hitchcock’s 1926 film ‘The Pleasure Garden’ as it is presented at Leytonstone station
1958’s ‘Vertigo’ – another of Hitchcock’s classics on display at Leytonstone tube station
The mosaic representing the Hitchcock film ‘The Wrong Man’ – that was released in 1956
Hitchcock’s 1940 released ‘Rebecca’ is portrayed in a mosaic positioned at the Church Road entrance to Leytonstone tube station
Hitchcock’s 1951 released ‘Strangers on a Train’ mosaic at Leytonstone station
The mosaic representing Hitchcock’s 1941 film ‘Suspicion’
The 1955 ‘To Catch a Thief’ mosaic again – taken during the evening at Leytonstone station
Hitchcock’s 1954 released ‘Rear Window’ film as depicted down on the passenger walkway at Leytonstone tube station
Me & my London Shoes amongst the commemorative Hitchcock mosaics at Leytonstone station
Sir Alfred Hitchcock’s childhood home where he was born, was at no.517 High Road Leytonstone – that was also his father’s grocery & poultry shop – was demolished in the 1960’s – and today a petrol garage stands on the site – but, tucked away on the garage forecourt wall, there is a small insignificant blue plaque that commemorates the fact that Sir Alfred Hitchcock was born there.
As close-up of the blue plaque that commemorates the fact that Sir Alfred Hitchcock was born at no. 517 High Road Leytonstone – that used to be on the site that is now a petrol garage. Hitchcock’s family home at 517 was demolished in the 1960’s
Me & my London Shoes – alongside the Hitchcock commemorative plaque on display at he petrol garage where once his family home of 517 High Road Leytonstone once stood
Right next to the garage site where Hitchcock was born, there is a building on the corner which has a Hitchcock mural depicting his epic 1963 released “Birds” film displayed all over it
Another view of the building next to the petrol garage, that has the Hitchcock mural depicting his epic 1963 released “Birds” film displayed
On the pavement surrounding the Hitchcock mural building, there are black silhouettes of ‘birds’ flutter about the place.
On an external wall of another building nearby to the petrol garage ‘plaque’, I stumbled upon another Hitchcock street art mural – so I guess there are a few folk out there who acknowledge Alred Hitchcock’s association with Leytonstone.
Leytonstone is an area I know well and have a lot of love for, as 839 Leytonstone High Road branch of Barclays Bank was where I started work as a 16yr old way back on 13th August 1973
The old Barclays 839 High Road branch has been closed for a few years now – its now a Pizza Restaurant
Me & my London Shoes outside the old front doors of the Barclays Bank branch where I started work as a 16yr old way back on 13th August 1973…..ironically, exactly 74 years after Alfred Hitchcock’s birth there on 13th August 1899 – how spooky is that!!! Perhaps they’ll be a plaque there commemorating me one day, when I’ve ‘gone’.
One of the pubs that used to phone in their ‘change order’ every Friday, when I worked at Barclays Bank Leytonstone branch, was a pub called ‘The Heathcote’ that was situated round the back of Leytonstone tube station, in Grove Green Road.
Whilst I was in the Leytonstone vicinity I thought I’d go check out to see if the Heathcote pub was still there (remember – it was over 50yrs ago) – and lo & behold, it was still standing.
The pub was originally opened as the Heathcote Arms & Hotel in 1905 – designed in an Elizabethan style with ornate tiling and sculptures.
Chatting to a local inside the pub, I found out that there was a time in recent years that The Heathcote was very close to closing down, like many of the other wonderful old pubs that always seemed to be on the corner of every East London street.
In 2014 the pub was closed by its owners, with a view to selling it to developers so that the building could be converted into residential flats.
The proposals to close the Heathcote and turn it into flats, caused such outrage throughout the local community and beyond – an action group was formed, and an application submitted through the necessary channels, to make the Heathcote Arms an ‘Asset of Community Value’ – which, fortunately, was granted in 2015.
With its future secured, the pub was given a massive refurb make-over and reopened in 2017 as “The Heathcote & Star”.
Me & my London Shoes – enjoying a cheeky drop of the old ‘gold watch’ in the old ‘Heathcote’ pub-Leytonstone now known as the ‘Heathcote & Star’ – following an enjoyable time tracking the wonderful ‘Alfred Hitchcock’ mosaics displayed at Leytonstone tube station
Another great find. Wonderful mosaics, celebrating an amazing film director. So nice that it can be viewed by the public every day. Thanks Geoff.
Glad you enjoyed the read Bev – take care
GEOFF (www.londonshoes.blog)
Really interesting subject once again Geoff it’s over 50 years since I last stepped on the platform of Leytonstone station I shall have to say hello to it the next time I’m down in the old smoke
OK well, here’s a day trip for me! Its only a stop or two up the road from Dagenham and I had no idea!
Nice one Geoff Clements. Love the Birds on the building as well as the mosaics.
Fantastic
How good is that and what a tribute to the man. I thought the mosaics look surprisingly good, bright clean and interesting and as you remarked, how many people have walked past them and never taken any notice of them or known their significance.
It does look as if someone has reserved their bed for the night right under one of the mosaics.
I rather like the shadows on the pavement, clever idea.
Obviously of great interest to me, having worked in Leytonstone for many years – loved this London Shoes blog