citylikeyou — God's Own Junkyard — London by Nathan Hackett

London / Gallery / Cafe / Art

At the end of the Victoria line at the Walthomstow station, and then a 15 minute walk through some suburban streets with some lefts and at other times rights is an industrial estate. Through the gate and buried at the very end of the units where you are convinced you are lost and doubting it’s existence at all is God’s Own Junkyard. It’s a worthy pilgrimage and actually sort of where you expect God would put a junkyard. The warehouse is a monument to neon and the life works of the late Mr Neon, Chris Bracey. It’s littered to the rooftop with cables, plug sockets and choice words with neon epigrams, the whole collection is stacked, I suppose how a junkyard of the sort would be. Full of sex, religion, americana, sci-fi and nostalgia that all blend together surprisingly well, It’s a visual feast that you can take in with a coffee and an open mouth. It is a gem of a place. It is really great.

Website
godsownjunkyard.co.uk

Address
God's Own Junkyard, Shernhall Street, London, United Kingdom

Illustrator

Current city: London

Other cities: Birmingham

nathanhackett.co.uk

Illustrator and doodler unsettled in London via elsewhere

More Places in London 471

London / Bar

I only made my first visit to Troy Bar fairly recently but it's already become a Friday night regular, and I feel like I've wasted a lot of nights not being here. Caribbean food, 4 Red Stripe for a tenner, an incredible house jazz band and as good an atmosphere as you'll find in the city.

London / Spa

Great cosy place for anyone in need of cakes and pampering!

London / Shop

I spend many hours in the bookshops along this stretch, namely Henry Pordes for second hand books and new discounted titles (pile on left of photo), as well as Koenig Books for new art books with lots of great discounts in the basement. (photo right). In 2001 the rents for much of this strip were increased to align them closer to market value but thanks to public support they were reduced again. Unfortunately some bookshops still closed down; Koenig replaced the beloved Zwemmers - a real institution - but thankfully still provide great books, although others are no longer bookshops at all.

London / Work Space

Built by my Dad and I in the rafters of an old peanut factory in Hackney Wick, I have slept and scribbled in this space for a number of years now. I enjoy being instantly confronted by the days task as soon as I wake. Despite the lack of natural light and paper thin walls this studio is great place to produce work. By far my favourite edition to the space of late has been my hammock.

London / Pub

Not the most exciting place inside, but a lovely rooftop area which not all that many people seem to know about, 2 mins walk from Old St station. If it's packed then The Red Lion is just up the road.