2023: Mural in Ipswich town centre given listed status

The 'Harvest' mural, located at the rear of the derelict Co-op department store on Carr Street, is one of only four surviving large-scale English Co-op murals from the 1950s and 1960s.

Created by Hungarian artists Gyula Bajó and Endre Hevezi between 1963 and 1964, the mural features thousands of vibrant square mosaic tiles that depict Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, alongside Hermes, the messenger of the gods.

The listing of this mural was made possible through an application submitted by campaigner Beren Reid to Historic England and the C20 Society.

The C20 Society initiated a campaign in 2009 aimed at preserving murals across the country.

This artwork represents one of more than 30 murals that have been nationally listed.

The mosaic to the left is on the back of the Co-operative department store building, above Cox Street. (Image: Google Maps) Both the C20 Society and Historic England took action to protect the mural due to its historical and architectural significance after learning of a planning application in 2021 that sought to demolish the building to make way for a new primary school.

While the demolition can still proceed since the building itself is not listed, the mural will now be preserved.

A spokesman for the C20 Society said: "We are absolutely thrilled that this piece of history is going to be preserved.

"It's really important that pieces like these are preserved, and now, with the potential to demolish the department store, there could be scope for the relocation of the mural elsewhere in the town.

"I think people have a real affection and a love for these sorts of things, they tell stories, and are important pieces of local heritage."

[From the Ipswich Star of April 15, 2023]