In 2024, 34bus met with Meet Me members to record oral histories of their memories of Deptford in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s – from work to parties, love and loss, fashion and food. The stories were inspiration to create a series of murals to brighten up the side of the Albany that backs on to Deptford Market Yard.
The Landlord’s Girlfriend captures the restless energy of New Cross Road—its grit, creativity, and defiance. With punk-era undertones, it nods to 1970s and 80s student movements, to 1950s-style dresses, and finding glamour in the city. Central to the story is a pub lost to fire and rumour—some say the landlord’s girlfriend did it. Truth or legend, the echoes of poetry, music, and rebellion remain.
It’s Market Day is a tribute to Deptford market. This piece captures the memories and people who have shaped the neighbourhood.”Chucker” was a local topper in the arches who resold bottles, chucking those he didn’t like. “Neighbour Queen” is a figure from a fond childhood memory of Deptford’s close-knit community. Grinling Gibbins, a renowned architect, placing little known work in local churches and having arguments with Tsars. Childhood trips to Blackheath, with only a jam sandwich and water, evoke simpler times. The ship recalls dock workers and playful moments by the River Quaggy. The bobby pin nods to local hairdressers who used magnets to remove pins, symbolising the changing trades over the years. At the heart of the image, a woman typing tells the story of her journey to Deptford, working as a secretary in the city but finding a sense of belonging and love in the market.
It’s a Nice Life Really is titled as a silent film still. This artwork is framed by the vines of tomatoes, symbolising local allotments and the routines and rituals of gardening. The phrase is a direct quote from one of the participants, but it resonated across all the stories that were collected.
Together, these murals frame Art Deco cinema doors, celebrating the area’s deep connection to storytelling and memories of local cinemas.
You can listed to the oral histories on the 34bus website here.
