Unearthing Battersea's very own mosaic tiles

YESTERDAY it was revealed that a Roman mosaic has been discovered near the Shard in central London.

It was the largest expanse of Roman mosaic found in London for more than half a century, unearthed at a site believed to have been a venue for high-ranking officials to lounge in whilst being served food and drink.

But did you know that you don't need to travel to central London to see a beautiful mosaic?

Battersea Arts Centre is home to some beautiful mosaic work.

It is unclear who the mosaics were laid by but upon entering the building you step onto a beautiful blue mosaic floor - one which thousands have walked upon and unlikely looked down to notice.

With a floral pattern around the edges of the entrance and a blue tile design in the middle dotted with bees, it is a shame it so often goes unnoticed.

Battersea has a long history with mosaic tiles through its connection to one of the great mosaics of the 19th century.

According to a paper written by Rita Ensing, Jesse Rust of Battersea was a manufacturing chemist, glassmaker and vitreous mosaic manufacturer, he was succeeded by his son Henry Jesse.

Sadly there is little of their work left as it was demolished, is inaccessible or simply not recorded.

The firm of Jesse Rust filled buildings across the country with their mosaic work including what is now the Victoria & Albert Museum in Chelsea.

Their firm was also eventually moved from Lambeth to settle at 353 Battersea Park Road in 1892.

In 1877 a site was purchased by the firm on which to build the church of St Mary le Park, it was dedicated May 5 1883.

A mosaic floor was laid in the sanctuary in 1915, partly paid for by Henry Jesse as well as Misses Ashcroft of Ethelburga Road and Miss Gibling who were members of the congregation.

The church also featured mosaic over pillars in the east as well as a mosaic floor in the chancel, laid in August 1918.

Sadly the one really local example Rust mosaic work was demolished in 1967 and it was considered too costly to remove and save the mosaics.

Have you spotted any other beautiful mosaic work in Battersea?