491 Gallery
Encyclopedia
The 491 Gallery is a squatted
social centre in Leytonstone
, London
, England. The multi-disciplinary gallery takes its name from its street number, 491 Grove Green Road. Formerly a factory, it is now home to a community-led art organisation and serves as a constant exhibition space for a diverse range of artists of different origins working in varied media. It contains a range of art and music studios, which are used to host workshops, classes and musical rehearsals.
s and demolition for the A12 site. When in late 2000 the building was abandoned, it became occupied by a group of homeless drug users, who remained in it for some six months. Within a month of their vacating the premises, the building was reoccupied by a group of artists, who spent the next several years turning it into a vibrant community space. Along with its neighbouring building, Vertigo — named after the eponymous film
by Alfred Hitchcock
, a former Leytonstone resident — the 491 Gallery is currently one of the longest running organisations of its kind.
, the buildings' legal owner, has agreed to allow the continued use of the otherwise commercially unviable buildings for an annual peppercorn rent
of £1. The Gallery regularly hosts art exhibitions, themed events and film screenings, such as a Transition Towns
screening of The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
.
Following a fire in 2008, the Vertigo building has been rebuilt throughout by its residents, and in 2009 was decorated with an exterior mural of Hitchcock to add to the artistic tributes in the local area, such as the mosaics in the neighbouring Leytonstone tube station
.
Squatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
social centre in Leytonstone
Leytonstone
Leytonstone is an area of east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is a high density suburban area, located seven miles north east of Charing Cross in the ceremonial county of Greater London and the historic county of Essex...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England. The multi-disciplinary gallery takes its name from its street number, 491 Grove Green Road. Formerly a factory, it is now home to a community-led art organisation and serves as a constant exhibition space for a diverse range of artists of different origins working in varied media. It contains a range of art and music studios, which are used to host workshops, classes and musical rehearsals.
Origin
The building, originally a factory, was later used as a storage space and warehouse for materials being used to construct the A12 that cuts through Leytonstone and the surrounding areas. Unlike the rest of the surrounding buildings, it and the few neighbouring houses were not subject to compulsory purchase orderCompulsory purchase order
A compulsory purchase order is a legal function in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland that allows certain bodies which need to obtain land or property to do so without the consent of the owner. It may be enforced if a proposed development is considered one for public betterment - for...
s and demolition for the A12 site. When in late 2000 the building was abandoned, it became occupied by a group of homeless drug users, who remained in it for some six months. Within a month of their vacating the premises, the building was reoccupied by a group of artists, who spent the next several years turning it into a vibrant community space. Along with its neighbouring building, Vertigo — named after the eponymous film
Vertigo (film)
Vertigo is a 1958 psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Barbara Bel Geddes. The screenplay was written by Alec Coppel and Samuel A...
by Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
, a former Leytonstone resident — the 491 Gallery is currently one of the longest running organisations of its kind.
Present day
The 491 Gallery and Vertigo now collectively collaborate on hosting regular exhibitions and offer studio space for musicians to use. It is maintained largely through small donations made by the public. Transport for LondonTransport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
, the buildings' legal owner, has agreed to allow the continued use of the otherwise commercially unviable buildings for an annual peppercorn rent
Peppercorn (legal)
A peppercorn in legal parlance is a metaphor for a very small payment, a nominal consideration, used to satisfy the requirements for the creation of a legal contract. "A peppercorn does not cease to be good consideration if it is established that the promisee does not like pepper and will throw...
of £1. The Gallery regularly hosts art exhibitions, themed events and film screenings, such as a Transition Towns
Transition Towns
Transition Towns is a grassroots network of communities that are working to build resilience in response to peak oil, climate destruction, and economic instability...
screening of The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil is an American documentary film that explores the Special Period in Peacetime and its aftermath; the economic collapse and eventual recovery of Cuba following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991...
.
Following a fire in 2008, the Vertigo building has been rebuilt throughout by its residents, and in 2009 was decorated with an exterior mural of Hitchcock to add to the artistic tributes in the local area, such as the mosaics in the neighbouring Leytonstone tube station
Leytonstone tube station
Leytonstone tube station is on the Central Line of the London Underground, on the boundary of Zones 3 and 4. Towards London the next station is Leyton, while going east from Leytonstone, the line divides into two branches...
.
See also
- The M11 link road protestM11 link road protestThe M11 link road protest was a major anti-road protest in east London, United Kingdom, in the early 1990s opposing the construction of the "A12 Hackney to M11 link road", also known as the M11 Link Road...
which accompanied the construction of the neighbouring motorway