Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
Dover, a port town in southeast England, is known for its white cliffs, its castle and its ferry terminal. It is also the closest point to continental Europe, separated by only 21 miles of the English Channel. In 2017, it became the site of a political statement by the world’s most famous street artist, Banksy.
The mural, which appeared overnight on the side of a disused building near the ferry terminal, depicted a worker in a hard hat and a high-visibility vest, using a hammer and a chisel to remove one of the 12 yellow stars from the blue flag of the European Union. The star was falling to the ground, leaving a crack in the flag.
The artwork was widely interpreted as a critique of Brexit, the decision by the UK to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum. It was also seen as a tribute to Dover, which had voted 62.2% in favor of Brexit, and which faced an uncertain future as a gateway to Europe.
The mural quickly became a landmark and a tourist attraction, drawing visitors and media attention from around the world. It was also valued at £1 million by John Brandler, an art dealer and Banksy collector, who offered to buy it from the owners of the building, the Godden family.
The Goddens, who own several properties in Dover and Folkestone, initially said they wanted to preserve the mural or sell it to “the highest bidder”. They even applied for a certificate of lawfulness from the council, which would have allowed them to remove the mural without planning permission.
However, in August 2019, the mural was mysteriously covered with white paint, sparking outrage and speculation. The Goddens claimed they had no knowledge of who was responsible, and blamed “vandals” for the damage. They also said they had changed their plans and decided to redevelop the site, which they described as “an eyesore”.
The redevelopment was part of a £25.4 million regeneration scheme by Dover District Council, which aimed to transform the area around the ferry terminal into a cultural, educational and business center, called the Dover Beacon Project. The project included a new hotel, a cinema, a restaurant, a college campus and a public square.
The council said it was not aware of the mural’s removal and had no power to intervene, as the building was privately owned and not listed. It also said it had tried to contact the Goddens to discuss the mural’s future, but had received no response.
The demolition of the building, and the mural along with it, began in late November 2023, and was completed by early December. The council said it was “saddened” by the loss of the artwork, but hoped the regeneration scheme would bring “new life” to the area.
Banksy fans and local residents, however, expressed their disappointment and anger at the destruction of the mural, which they saw as a symbol of Dover and a piece of history. Some accused the Goddens of greed and vandalism, and called for an investigation into the mural’s fate. Others lamented the loss of a unique and valuable asset, which could have boosted the town’s economy and identity.
Brandler, who had offered to buy the mural, said he was “gutted” by the demolition, and compared it to “binning the Mona Lisa”. He said the mural was “irreplaceable” and “priceless”, and that it reflected an important period in the country’s history, whether one agreed with Brexit or not.
He also said he had a plan to save the mural, by lifting it off the wall and removing the whitewash, and that he was willing to work with the council and the community to re-display it in Dover. He said he had contacted the Goddens several times, but had received no reply.
He said: “Dover has the most amazing opportunity to be a go-to place rather than a go-through place. You’ve got the headliner piece for a street art museum, and nothing happens. This isn’t an insignificant £5,000 Banksy, this is a world-famous Banksy.”
He added: “Do the council want to be the ones who destroy the Banksy? Because I can save it. I can make it a community asset, by putting it next to other Banksys. Every council knows that retail is dead and you have to create go-to destinations, here you’ve got this amazing asset that people will flock to see.”
Banksy, who remains anonymous and elusive, has not commented on the demolition of his mural. He has, however, continued to create new works around the world, often addressing social and political issues such as climate change, migration, racism and Covid-19.
His latest work, titled Morning is Broken, appeared on the side of a derelict farmhouse in Herne Bay, Kent, in March 2023. It showed a silhouetted boy opening corrugated iron “curtains” to reveal a sunrise. The work was confirmed by Banksy on his Instagram account, where he also posted a photo of the farmhouse being demolished, with the caption: “Oh.”
The fate of the Dover mural raises questions about the ownership, preservation and value of street art, especially when it is created by an artist as influential and controversial as Banksy. It also highlights the tension between urban development and cultural heritage, and the role of art in shaping the identity and image of a place.
Dover may have lost its Banksy, but it has not lost its soul. It remains a town with a rich history, a diverse community and a strategic location. It also has a chance to reinvent itself and attract new visitors and investors, with or without a mural. The question is: what kind of Dover does it want to be?
