New Mural Celebrates Old Trafford’s Heritage

An eye-catching new mural that was a year in the making, celebrates the spirit of Old Trafford.

Taking inspiration from local heroes including 101 Dalmatians author Dodie Smith and Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, the giant artwork has already been turning the heads of commuters and passersby at Trafford Bar Metrolink ahead of its official launch on Friday 15 May 2026.

The striking green, red and pink design is the handiwork of Old Trafford designer Charles Williams of Made Up Studio, who worked with local residents of all ages to come up with an idea that encapsulated the sense of pride people feel for their local area.

Giant boards installed in the windows and door of the former Trafford Bar station ticket office now spell out LOVE in an op art-style series of dots and curved lines.  Each 2m high and a metre wide, the panels have been painstakingly hand painted by Williams, in a process involving masonry paint, computer software, a projector and a very steady hand. Additional smaller panels over the door add the letter OT and a heart.

The curved red brick building, at the corner of Seymour Grove and Talbot Road, which now hosts the mural, was opened in 1849. It was recently called “at risk” in a report by the group Save Britain’s Heritage. 

Williams hopes that people will be “surprised” by the artwork, which is called Love Letters, and will stop to take a closer look. It forms part of the Old Trafford Art Trail, which was initiated by local community art centre OT Creative Space in 2021. Love Letters is the 14th mural on the outdoor art walk, which also includes sites in Seymour Park, on Ayres Road and on Stretford Road.

It has been funded by Metrolink operator KeolisAmey and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Though Williams has been well known as a graphic designer and animator for decades, with a client list that includes Nike, music and culture event Bestival, Google and the Washington Post, it is the first time he has created an outdoor mural.

He said: “I looked into the history of Old Trafford and researched notable people who came from here or grew up in the area, including Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, LS Lowry and Dodie Smith, author of 101 Dalmatians.

“The resultant design uses the word LOVE as its basis, with the word emerging from a graphic tapestry, with colours inspired by the cherry blossoms of Old Trafford. The stripes are a nod to tramlines, and the undulation references the infamous Joy Division Unknown Pleasures album artwork. The style is also a further nod to the work of Bridget Riley and Yayoi Kusama, two of my favourite artists.”

He said he wants people who walk past to be surprised, to stop and have a look. “From a distance, the panels look very tight and graphic,” he said, “but close up, you can really see the human touch.”

The mural was created in collaboration with the Old Trafford Ageing in Place Pathfinder, which is one of nine Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) resident-led partnerships looking at improving quality of life for residents as they grow older.

The idea to transform the Metrolink station came about when Judie Collins, a steering group member for the Greater Manchester Older People’s Network and the Old Trafford Ageing in Place Pathfinder, realised the area needed a facelift.

Collins, who lives in Timperley, said: “I regularly change trams at Trafford Bar and think the old ticket office is a really impressive building, but one that needed a bit of love.

“When I spoke to Carrie Williams, who was then Aging in Place coordinator with Trafford Community Collective, I suggested some art could really improve the look of the site. Carrie spoke to Lynda Sterling at OT Creative Space and the rest is history.

“Love Letters has been a really successful partnership project and I think the finished mural is definitely interesting and works very well.”

The project included intergenerational workshops at Lowry Lodge retirement housing and OT Creative Space on Ayres Road. Local residents aged from 5-90 worked with designer Williams to think about what living in Old Trafford means to them.

Carrie Williams, who is continuing the Pathfinder project as Live Well in Later Life project coordinator for Age UK Salford and Trafford, said: “Civic pride and the impact of the environment on wellbeing are both crucial strands of the project. When Judie came to me and suggested that the tram stop needed a facelift and that a mural could brighten it up, I immediately contacted Lynda. I knew this site would make a great addition to the OT Art Trail.

“OT Creative Space and designer Charles have done an amazing job. The former ticket office was already a local landmark but in need of some care and attention. The mural alongside new cycle lanes at Trafford Bar have completely transformed the area.”

Lynda Sterling, founder, OT Creative Space, said: “We held workshops and listened to people of all ages’ memories of Old Trafford. The most popular ideas were unity, diversity, nature and history. And possibly football.

“Love Letters is the 14th mural on the OT Art Trail and is an amazing addition. Visually, it is quite a departure from many of the other artworks. You can find a map of the whole trail on the OT Creative Space website. Walking the trail is a great free weekend activity, or come along on Friday 15 May to the launch of our newest mural.”

Love Letters launches on Friday 15 May 2026 3-4.30pm, alongside Trafford Council Active Travel bike lanes on Talbot Road. Hear from mural designer Charles Williams, pick up a free postcard of the new artwork and design your own postcard. Come on your bike and benefit from a free ‘bling your bike’ session. Refreshments will be provided. for more information about Live Well in Later Life, contact Carrie Williams at carriewilliams@ageuksalfordandtrafford.org.uk