Harry Beck and the Tube Map Exhibition

Your last chance to see a display on the development of the London Underground map. There's a small exhibition at the soon to be closed Church Farmhouse Museum in Hendon which runs until Sunday 27th March.


Church Farmhouse Museum, Hendon by mark.hogan

Harry Beck, came from Finchley and was the first person to simplify the design of the map by avoiding geographical scale. His map, reputedly based on an electrical wiring diagram, dispensed with realism in favour of readability and still the inspiration for many other subway maps around the world.

Londonist's M@ says "Highlights include a map showing a thwarted extension of the Northern Line to Elstree, a pre-Beck chart showing the exact tunnel routes beneath London’s streets, and the much maligned Hutchinson map of 1960 — an ugly duckling beside Beck’s creations but innovative in its use of station symbols."


The Moving Toyshop by jovike

There's also a small exhibition of 20th Century games and toys at the musuem. Sadly, Barnet Council are withdrawing the museum's funding at the end of the financial year.

Thanks to John Keogh for the above picture and there are others including the lovely garden in the museum's grounds in his Flickr stream.

Admission to the exhibition is free and the nearest Tube is Hendon Central.  More details on the opening times are on the Museum's site.