Geotype Submission

The Geotype project charts the rich history of lettering and type forms that have established the identity of cities and towns around the world. Explore the map

How does this letter-form communicate its location?

The boats along the River Lea are a really interesting window into the history of the area, and the typographic language used on the boats is symbolic of a time before Hackney's gentrification. The boats moored along the River Lea, regardless of whether they are new or old, all adhere to the same basic visual language; traditional, hand-painted, serif letterforms, often featuring a 3D drop shadow effect and a swirl motif. It is similar to the signage found on local pubs, and evokes the same spirit of traditional values. The narrowboat community of the River Lea is very tightly-knit, and as such they all adhere to a similar visual language. I chose the above picture in particular because I believe it is indicative of this sentiment. Though the boat is being repainted, the sign has been preserved. Much like the ghost signs that can be seen dotted around Hackney, the original letterforms seen on the sides of narrowboats are celebrated and preserved out of respect for a previous era.

Location

London E5 9RH, UK