The London Underground station that has a massive ‘swastika’ built into the floor

Looking at the floor as you stroll is a positive hearth approach to miss the oddities of life occurring round you, besides for those who ever end up in a sure East London station.

At Upminster Bridge Station, Havering, those that like to look down will spot what seems to be a massive ‘swastika’ built into the floor.

Now, earlier than the conspiracy nuts leap on this as proof that a bunch of far-right loons run the Underground and the ‘f’ in TfL really stands for ‘facist’, this image pre-dates it is repurposing by the Nazi get together.

Nowadays, particularly in the West, the image is synonymous with the vile fascist get together and their despicable acts.

But for millennia earlier than it was a spiritual icon representing divinity.

It continues to be utilized in religions similar to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, and till the Nineteen Thirties it was utilized in the West as a image of excellent luck.

The swastika on the floor of the ticket corridor at Upminster Bridge station

When the station was built in the early Nineteen Thirties the notoriety of the Nazi Party wasn’t fairly but worldwide and the architects thought the white, pink and black swastika could be a fairly addition to the ticket corridor.

Maybe even they have been superstitious individuals and thought it might convey the passengers coming into and exiting the station good luck.

But the design definitely wasn’t a nod to the fascists over in Germany.

Read More
Read More

Back then it was a frequent design characteristic, with different examples to be present in London similar to on The Royal Academy of Arts constructing at Burlington House and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in King Charles Street.

All of which predate the rise of the Nazis.

This doesn’t suggest that some Upminster locals are proud of the enduring design at their native Tube station.

0 GettyImages 1028621910

MyLondon’s sensible new publication The 12 is full of information, views, options and opinion from throughout the metropolis.

Every day we’ll ship you a free e-mail at round 12pm with 12 tales to maintain you entertained, knowledgeable and uplifted. It’s the good lunchtime learn.

The MyLondon workforce tells London tales for Londoners. Our 45 journalists cowl all the information you want – from City Hall to your native streets.

Never miss a second by signing as much as The 12 publication right here.

A petition submitted to the Government earlier this yr known as for the swastika to be eliminated and changed “with a memorial that commemorates the efforts of each troopers and civilians all through the commonwealth.”

This was rejected because it’s a matter for Transport for London to resolve.

Is there a unusual city oddity in your nook of London? Please get in contact at [email protected]

Recommended For You