The Catford cat: a giant guardian of the London area (10 photos)

For over half a century, a giant character with a mysterious Cheshire Cat smile has been watching the residents of this corner of London.





This huge fiberglass cat, perched on the Catford Centre building, has become a symbol of the area. Since 1974, it has been sitting serenely on the facade, resting its paw on the letter F in the name Catford, as if emphasizing its power over the territory.



The authors of the unusual sculpture were the famous, and sometimes scandalous, brutalist architects Owen Luder and Rodney Gordon. It would seem that Luder's severe concrete style does not go well with the playful image of the cat, but it is this contrast that made the statue iconic.





Over the decades, the cat has survived many trials, and not only weather-related ones. In 2017, plans emerged to dismantle the statue, which caused a storm of indignation among local residents. They collected signatures, organized protests in defense of their pet, and their efforts were crowned with success. The cat remained in its place.



Today, the Catford cat still proudly looks at passers-by, reminding that even in the urban jungle there is a place for miracles.