What's the story of Touch 4 Love?

The Bridge is getting involved with Bankside Open Spaces Trust’s (BOST) Touch 4 Love Campaign, aiming to create and promote mindful moments for people in Bankside.

Alongside other community organisations in the area, we’ll be creating a poster to display outside The Bridge to convey what wellbeing means to our community. We want the poster to be created by members of our community (that means you!) to act as a point of mindfulness for anyone who walks by – encouraging them to pause, breathe and pay attention to what’s happening in the here and now. It’ll be one of many posters displayed in the area and part of a mindful trail which people can follow for a peaceful walk around Bankside and to learn more about wellbeing resources in the area.

But what’s the story behind Touch 4 Love and how do people get involved in the campaign? Read on to find out more!

Before we begin, let’s talk about where the Touch 4 Love story is set. Just around the corner from The Bridge – under five minutes’ walk down Union Street – you’ll find Crossbones Graveyard and Remembrance Garden. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of London Bridge, it can be an easy place to miss if you’re running for a bus or rushing to your next appointment. But as soon as you go in, it’ll fast become a space that you’ll want to slow down for whenever you pass it for a moment of peace and calm.

Enter through the black gates and be immersed in gorgeous green plants before heading across the covered wood-decked structure – reminiscent of a fairy path and symbolising the wing of The Goose (the spirit of Crossbones) protecting all who enter the garden. This’ll lead you into the main area, where you’ll be welcomed by friendly volunteer wardens who’ll be delighted to tell you more about the rich, diverse and ongoing history of the garden.

It was established in the late medieval times as an unconsecrated graveyard for sex workers who lived, worked and died in this once notoriously lawless area of London. At the time, sex workers in this area were known as the ‘Winchester Geese’ as they were licensed to work here by the Bishop of Winchester who owned the surrounding lands. By the 18th century, it had become a pauper’s burial ground and is now an important and powerful memorial for ‘the outcast dead’; following years of campaigning and activism by Friends of Crossbones over the last 25 years to save the space from development.

Walk around the garden and you’ll find many powerful, eccentric and wonderful artefacts and shrines hidden within the flowers and plants, painted on the walls and tied to the fences. Right at the back of the garden you’ll find The Old Door – and this is where we start the story of Touch 4 Love.

Drawn on the battered door is a white heart, with the words “Touch 4 Love” written in the middle. It was created by John Lycett Green as a sign for people feeling lost and lonely. The idea was that people could, whenever they needed, come to the drawing and touch it to remind them that they are loved, valued and important. It serves as a mindful spot for anyone who might need that reminder.

The old door was originally part of the hoarding by the gates on Redcross Street. John was taken there by a local artist and photographer, who led a campaign against a proposed development of the site in 2000 with her ‘This is still the Crossbones Graveyard’ posters. Her work was paramount in saving the graveyard. As well as spending time with the infamous Southwark Councilor Danny McCarthy, John shares a deep connection with the artist and this is why Crossbones became the place where touch for love was put.

This touching story is the inspiration behind BOST’s Touch 4 Love campaign, aiming to spread this message of support, love and connection with everyone in Bankside. We’re so excited to be involved and to create a poster as part of the project.

Want to get involved? We’d love you to!

On Wednesday 22 February 2023 at 13:30, join us for our ‘walk and talk’ session where we’ll be walking to Crossbones together from The Bridge and having a guided tour of the space from BOST.

Afterwards, we’re hosting our first poster making workshop to start creating the poster. We want this to be created by The Bridge community so you can shape what the poster looks like, what messages to put on it and to express what wellbeing means to you.

Both sessions are completely free and open to everyone, taking place as part of our HUB project. Find out more here.