Robyn Rosen CUSTOMERS at a Muswell Hill shop are calling for antique tiles uncovered during building work to be listed. Refurbishment works at the Scullery, a kitchen shop in Muswell Hill Broadway, led to owner Chris Ostwald uncovering the tiles hidden b

Robyn Rosen

CUSTOMERS at a Muswell Hill shop are calling for antique tiles uncovered during building work to be listed.

Refurbishment works at the Scullery, a kitchen shop in Muswell Hill Broadway, led to owner Chris Ostwald uncovering the tiles hidden behind fitted cabinets on Thursday last week.

Mr Ostwald believes the tiled originate from an old butcher's shop which ran from the premises 20 years ago but has called on local people or historians to provide their expertise.

He said: "We were laying a new floor and moved all the fitted cupboards away from the wall. That's when we discovered all these amazing antique tiles which have been hidden for years

"We think they came from the old butcher's shop before the Scullery was here but we'd love for someone to come and look at them to work out where they are from."

Customer Dennis Heathcote, 67, has lived in Muswell Hill for 35 years. "I was walking passed the shop and saw the tiles through the window and thought they are rather charming," he said.

"I can't remember what the shop was before but it's tiled from floor to ceiling and that was quite common, or an old fashioned butcher shop for cleanliness reasons.

"There are many shops in Muswell Hill that have been ripped out with nasty interiors and it's quite heartening to see someone who wants to preserve the past. It reminds us of the old Muswell Hill.

"The whole point of Muswell Hill shopping centre is that it's an Edwardian development so to make a gesture to their past is quite nice.

"The frieze at the top is charming. I hope they leave them visible."

Following feedback by local customers, Mr Ostwald is considering transforming the style of the shop to match the tiles.

"People have been coming in and saying how beautiful they are and are saying they should be listed," he said. "I think we may have to completely change our plans for the shop to incorporate these into the design. We are currently refurbishing the shop and the whole idea was to be modern but I think we might need to go traditional to keep with the style of the tiles.

"It would be a shame to put all the shelves back because the tiles give the shop a lot of character. We're now thinking about keeping them on view but they do need to be restored."

Steve Johnson, a shop assistant, said: "People were coming in all weekend and saying how much they liked them and asking what we were planning to do with them.

"Customers have been really enthusiastic about them.