God's Own Junkyard

 Hidden away in Walthamstow, a town within the London Borough of Waltham Forest, is a hidden gem with one of the coolest and quierkiest exhibits in the city. 😉😉

For years Walthamstow was known as an unremarkable district of gray streets and drab flats on the northeast fringe of London. 

 More recently, the city’s gentrification has brought an influx of young creatives and curious hipsters into the neighborhood. These two faces of Walthamstow come together in the purple haze of God’s Own Junkyard.

 God’s Own Junkyard is a kaleidoscopic warehouse-maze of handmade neon signs that blazes forth in an old industrial estate like a Vegas mirage.

 The story of God’s Own Junkyard is a fascinating one. Late owner Chris Bracey, the ‘Neon Man’, got his start by making signs for Soho’s strip clubs and brothels. Soon, his talents were spotted by Hollywood, and he began fashioning props for directors such as Stanley Kubrick, Tim Burton, and Christopher Nolan.

 The collection includes thousands of signs, props, and figures, all displayed within a single warehouse space. Cheerful emblems for diners and hotels wink from wall to wall. Every form of disreputable fun is represented in bright light, stacked from the floor and hung from the ceiling: cocktails, karaoke, rock ‘n’ roll, pinball, disco, casinos. Neon-trimmed religious images share space with lurid displays designed for, or inspired by, the retro carnal vice dens of old Soho.

 One of his most iconic works was the iconic "Girls, Girls, Girls" sign gracing the outside of the Revuebar, the theatre and strip club owned by "The King of Soho", Paul Raymond. 

Following a chance encounter with the art director of Mona Lisa (the 1986 neo-noir crime film directed by Neil Jordan and starring Bob Hoskins, Michael Caine and Robbie Coltrane), Chris began making signs for movie sets.

And then musicians came calling. Bracey lent his artistic brilliance to projects like the mesmerising neon rings that encircled Blur in their 1990 chart-topper "She's So High" and the electrifying neon backdrop that set the stage for Pulp's 1995 classic "Common People."

"The Neon Man", died of prostate cancer in 2014, but passed the torch on to his wife, Linda, and their three sons, Marcus, Matthew and Max, who all remain determined to keep the family trade alive. 

There are more than 1,500 neon pieces, ranging from movie props to vintage signs once adorning fun fairs and circuses, nestled within this warehouse in Walthamstow.

The warehouse has remained free of charge for visitors and the neon creations are for buying as well as ogling. 

 

 Side Note: Matthew Bracey (one of the neon man's sons) has written a book; a biography, of their family's business. The book is called Steel Dogs  and according to the reviews it is supposed to be quite entertaining. It's in my Amazon basket for my next read. 🤗

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