Hackney Type Map

Hackney Type Map is our first title dedicated to architectural lettering. Discover the London borough of Hackney from a new perspective, with insightful descriptions and original photography by Lilly Marques. The guide explores centuries of typography across the borough, from hand-painted signs and centuries-old stonework to neon letters and contemporary metalwork. The unique lettering of Hackney connects us to the borough’s cultural history and thriving present, and inspires us to find the hidden stories of signs all around us.

Author Lilly Marques is a Hackney-based designer and the curator of the Hackney Type Project. She is part of the St Bride Foundation type community, and lectures at Kingston University School of Arts.

The Hackney Type Map is available at a discounted price in three of our map collections:

London Maps Set

European Maps Set

Complete Maps Set

Our maps are printed in the UK by a family-run B Corp-certified printer. We use quality recycled paper and print with vegetable-based inks to ensure minimum environmental impact. The Hackney Type Map is printed on A2 (420 x 594 mm / 16.5in x 23.4in) paper, folded to A5 (148 x 210 mm) and is wrapped in a band.

Examples of lettering featured on the map include:

Egg Stores  – 4–6 Stamford Hill, N16 6XZ

This treasured landmark, originally an egg dealing business, opened in 1951. It has changed hands many times and was even destroyed in a fire, however its wonderful Festival of Britain-era sign has been restored.

Tea Building – 56 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ

The iconic Tea Building served as a tea packing plant in the 1930s. Now studios, the style of the rooftop sign derives from French metal stencil letters, similar to ones used to mark the wooden tea crates arriving from overseas.

The Hackney Type Map was a joy to create and hopefully it will lead to a new series for us.