Let us spray

Richard Wyatt
The stencil view into Abbey Churchyard.
The stencil view into Abbey Churchyard.
At the foot of an 18th century column
At the foot of an 18th century column

I know its a trendy way of advertising your presence and so ‘street smart’ but stencil graffiti by people who should know better really bugs me.

It is a defacement of the public realm whoever does it and being chalk and not paint does not excuse the fact that people think it is ok to vandalise a World Heritage city in this way.

How ironic it’s been spayed right outside the door of the tourist office and  another patch is almost creeping up an 18th column on the colonnades looking into Abbey Churchyard.

Stencil outside the tourist and film office
Stencil outside the tourist and film office

This pavement peril vies with the chewing gum splodges in setting a low example for the four and a half million who flock here each year to bolster our local economy.

Published by Richard Wyatt

Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath. Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.