Once Upon A Time

Once Upon A Time draws on the rich and sometimes dark historical tales of Clerkenwell, from wife sales to prison bombings. Working in collaboration with UAL Chelsea College of Arts, BA Graphic Design Communication students interpreted stories from six locations, which were brought to life by a series of graphical installations during CDW’s 10th edition.

Seven winning entries were selected by a judging panel including; Max Fraser, CDW Content Editor, Priya Khanchandani, ICON Editor and David Barnett, Chelsea College of Art Course Leader, BA Graphic Design Communication. In conjunction with the project, Lansdown’s London hosted a number of historical walking tours. Take a look at the winning entries below.

Passing Alley
By Rory Brown

Passing Alley was named Pissing Alley on some early maps. The Old Baptist’s Head pub was a short distance from the alley and a place where newly convicted felons being escorted from court to prison would stop for a final drink. Many were also said to use the alley for a final ‘slash’. This design uses symbols to celebrate this Clerkenwell tale.

Passing Alley
By Maxim Cook

Engaged is an interactive project that embraces the past and future of Passing Alley. Visitors can scan each QR code on the objects to find out more about the alley through facts and happenings over the past few centuries.

St James’s Church Garden
By Alistair Ramage

This modern memorial honours the 66 Martyrs who were burned alive at the stake for having protestant beliefs. Displaying the names of all 66 Martyrs killed in the Smithfield this design echoes the geometric style of the church’s stained glass windows.

Farringdon Station
By Alba Skottowe

Farringdon station is the terminus of the world’s first underground railway. The image represents the old Metropolitan railway line with the original stops marked along the winding path. The path, from bottom to top, also reflects a timeline of the railway’s history, where the imagery incorporated along the journey are references to various historical events that happened during it’s construction.

Smithfield Market
By Carrie Maxwell

“Hand is a tool of tools” as Aristotle said. Having been a meat market since 1846 this design celebrates the backbone of Smithfield Market – its workers. Furthermore, it is a symbol representing the idea that everyone is welcome by the gesture and direction of the workers hands.

Jerusalem Passage
By Woon Ko

As well as living down Jerusalem Passage, coal merchant Thomas Britton fitted out the loft of his coal shop as a tiny concert hall to put on informal concerts and was later known as ‘The Musical Coalman’. Taking inspiration from Britton’s concert room and the harpsichord that Handel played whilst there, this design incorporates an interactive piece where visitors can scan the QR code to listen to the music score displayed as part of the artwork.

House of Detention
By Natasha Lopez

The House of Detention has a very rich history with tales of failed escapes and destruction. In 1867 an attempted escape went tragically wrong as a bomb ruptured a nearby gas main killing 12 people. Known as the ‘Clerkenwell Outrage’ this design uses geometric illustrations to represent the explosion in a modern way.