Co-op mural and Banksy in Lowestoft

In November 2021 the Banksy mural sprayed onto the wall of the empty Lowestoft Electrical shop was carefully removed and the work of art sold for £2 million. This demonstrates that artwork applied to masonry can be safely removed if it is financially worthwhile. 

It also throws into question the claim by the contractor of the proposed school on the site of the Carr Street Co-op, that the ‘Harvest’ mosaic mural will be too difficult to remove and is bound to be damaged if they attempt to remove it and so they are going to take a photograph and destroy the original. If the original was by Banksy a method of safe removal would surely be found.

Below: the Lowestoft Banksy. We hope that the new ownersrecreated the sandcastle accurately. Photograph by John Norman.

‘There is good news from Hull regarding the future of the Three Ships mural designed by Alan Boyson, one of Britain's leading post-war muralists, which featured in the Co-op Architecture article in the journal Current Archaeology, issue 382. 

‘Though work is set to start shortly on demolishing the landmark former Co-op building on Hull's Albion Square, the giant mosaic attached to the facade is to be saved. Made of a million pieces of Italian glass, the 66ft by 64ft mural depicts three stylised trawlers spelling out 'Hull' with their masts. 

‘Local heritage groups had been campaigning for its retention, and were buoyed up by Historic England's decision to list the mural at Grade 2 in November 2019 – a rare example of a public work of art being listed, rather than a building. 

‘The mural will now be retained and kept in situ throughout the demolition, before being incorporated into the new office and residential building being constructed immediately behind.’

JN

[N.B. The Co-op mural by Gyula Bajo in Stevenage was listed Grade II in May, 2022. Hope for Ipswich?]

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