Public signage on Platforms 1 and 2
The town of Wallsend retains its Roman identity both in its name and in the remains of Segedunum, the fort at the eastern end of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site, located a short distance from the Metro station.
The station celebrates this, with signage appearing in both English and Latin, part of a wider project by the artist Michael Pinsky. The Latin was retained and renewed during the refurbishment of the station in 2013.
As part of the wider project Michael realised a series of digitised photographs taken around Wallsend, with the text on road signs, shops, advertising posters etc. all translated into Latin by Professor Donald Hill from the Classics Department at the University of Newcastle. These created a bold and witty blend of the ancient and modern, particularly when there is no Latin equivalent for certain modern words and phrases. The Jobcentre became the Forum Venalicium (slave market) and Woolworths became Domus Lana Dignorum (the house of those worthy of wool). The photographs were originally displayed throughout the station and were complemented by the permanent installation of bi-lingual signage, English and Latin, such as Noli Fumare/No Smoking. A large map, H Murus, showing Hadrian’s Wall and the main Roman road network in the north of England, in the style of the Tyne and Wear Metro map, was also produced to provide unexpected information and a subtle bridge between past and present.
Artist's website - http://www.michaelpinsky.com/.