Celebrating the Weaver Line’s Artistic Tribute at Hackney Downs Station

A hand-woven roundel has been unveiled at Hackney Downs station to celebrate the newly named Weaver line on the London Overground. This colourful piece of art, created by local artist Dalia James, is a nod to east London’s weaving and textiles history.

The project kicked off with two free workshops at Chingford Community Hub back in September, where locals had the chance to weave individual pieces of the roundel. Those pieces were then brought together by Ms James to form the final artwork, now proudly displayed above the stairs leading to the platforms.

According to Transport for London (TfL), the Weaver line name highlights the weaving and textile industries that once thrived in areas like Spitalfields Market, Bethnal Green, and Hackney. It’s one of six new names for Overground lines announced last year, alongside Liberty, Lioness, Mildmay, Suffragette, and Windrush.

Speaking about the project, Ms James said,

“As someone who was born and raised in east London, being part of this has been an honour. Running workshops where locals could contribute made it even more special, and it’s something I’ll always be proud of.”

Trish Ashton, TfL’s director of rail and sponsored services, added, “The Weaver line celebrates the history and spirit of east London. These new line names don’t just help people get around—they’re also a way to honour the communities and stories tied to these areas. We hope everyone passing through Hackney Downs takes a moment to enjoy the roundel.”

In addition, TfL has been marked the occasion by hosting a competition for Londoners to submit poems and illustrations inspired by the line names, with winning entries set to go on display at Hackney Central station later this month. There’s also a podcast series on the line names over at Mind the Gap, and Go Jauntly has created six self-guided walks themed around each line.

So next time you’re at Hackney Downs, take a second to check out the new roundel—a creative reminder of the area’s woven past.

Check out the Go Jauntly website for self-guided walks inspired by the new Overground line names and the stories behind them.

For more stories like this and insights into London’s cultural scene, follow EyeOnLondon.

[Image Credit: Transport For London]

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