Tilbury Wall
I came across this wall full of early 80s mod graffiti on a walk from Tilbury Fort to the Power Station in Essex.
It's quite a desolate area, but peaceful, and on a sunny day, with blue skies and the sun shining off the water, really quite beautiful and well worth the walk.
Finding the graffiti along the sea wall was really something; a rush of recognition on seeing the lyrics to The Jam songs 'Saturday Kids' and 'Thick As Thieves', and a few strong memories of that strange late 70s/early 80s mod revival. The Purple Hearts & Secret Affair band logos can also be seen here.
The general decay of the area also brought to mind the teenage ennui and nihilism that is conveyed so well in 'Quadrophenia' and another Jam song, 'Wasteland'.
Also spotted some anti-miners/vote Tory stuff, a 'Rocky III' homage complete with badly drawn glove, and an attempt at some pop art (in full colour), all seem to be from the same early 80s era.
Comments and faves
southendonsea (63 months ago | reply)
Excellent shot. I have heard of this wall, but never seen it, thanks so much for providing evidence of this legendary wall, Great!
scody added this photo to her favorites. (63 months ago)
thurrockdave too (61 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Thurrock, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
davidwatts1978 (59 months ago | reply)
but it turned out just for a while...
Terry Cashman (59 months ago | reply)
I used to live in Tilbury and play down near the sea wall when I was a kid. I got into The Jam when I was about sixteen and was sure I recognized those lyrics from somewhere, now I remember where!
Thank you!
Dave Amis [deleted] (59 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called The other side of Essex, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
I went down there a few years ago and was struck by the graffiti, especially the political stuff, even though it was on the opposite end of the spectrum to where I stand. What I found interesting was the fact that someone was motivated enough to put up their thoughts on a remote wall in Tilbury for posteriety! Can't imagine people doing that these days...
thurrockdave too (58 months ago | reply)
Thanks for taking the time to add your pic to the Thurrock Pool. :)
tart.tart added this photo to their favorites. (57 months ago)
polyesterday [deleted] (51 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Song Lyric/Quote Art, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
MegaMalc, Che Van Gogh, Dark Knight of the Innovative Order, and matt carroll with a camera added this photo to their favorites.
someblokecalleddave (26 months ago | reply)
The political writing that is there was written by a bloke called 'Pussy' and as far as I can recall was wriiten in order to provoke a reaction from me and my mates who were involved in the Labour party and supporting the miners strike. The power-station was picketed by miners from Bettshanger collery in Kent that was shut down by Thacther and many of the Tilbury Mods used to join the miners on the picket line outside the powerstation because the powerstation was using coal shipped in from abroad. We used to organise collections in the pubs locally to support the striking miners and it was our overt support for the left that triggered the grafitti - which as I recall is overtly right wing.
The pseudo pop art image is from the cover of the single 'Frustration' by the Purple Hearts and the kid that painted it was Bendy. He still lives in Tilbury as far as I know and yeah he was a Mod. The painting is circa 1985 a long while after the original painting was done by myself of the 2 Tone logo. That was the original graffitti done circa 1981 as the back-drop to the parties that I used to organise down at the seawall. We used to have our parties there because in town they were always crashed by the notorious Tilbury Skinheads.
colinhouston1 (18 months ago | reply)
Thats correct what Dave has writen (As far as I remember). It's amazing that the wall has became such a legend, or more to the point the painting; or "Pop art" has. I myself have even meet peaple from America and Canada that have visited the wall specifically for the Mod art.
I have even offered, (And maintain the offer) to pay to have the paintings refurbished or touched up by Garry Bend and any overs from back then.....But as of now, no replys. I'm back in the UK this christmas; will be attending a Northen soul/Mod reunion. Maybe I can re-fresh the offer to maintain the wall painting's and the history of our youth.