A local street artist has created a piece of artwork in the city centre that pays homage to one of Greater Manchester’s finest exports – the Jaffa Cake – but it has caused some slight divides in opinion over its exact origins.
Well-known creator Akse P19, who has famously created murals of Ian Curtis, Kurt Kobain, and Marcus Rashford, has unveiled his latest work in the Northern Quarter celebrating the McVities creation.
The latest mural, which is situated off Thomas Street and Salmon Street, features the slogan ‘proudly made in Stockport’ alongside artwork featuring some of the town’s buildings, as well as the Jaffa Cakes logo.
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Posting on social media a picture of the mural, Akse explained how it had taken him four days to complete the work. He wrote: “In honour of Stockport’s finest export @jaffacakesofficial, I’m delighted to have brought this one to life for McVitie’s. It took 4 days to complete this 20m x 12m mural (with some support), so time now for a well-earned brew and a Jaffa Cake or two…”
The mural was praised by locals, with one person saying: “Love it. Fantastic work.” Another added: “Saw it this morning going to work.. Brilliant.” One more person added: “Now that’s a mural.”
But some others also took to question the exact location of the McVities building and whether it can really be classed as Stockport or, as some believe, Levenshulme. The factory, which is situated on Wellington Road North, is close between the borders of both areas.
One person asked: “Isn’t McVities in Levenshulme Manchester on the border of Stockport?”. Another said: “It’s Levenshulme all day long and I won’t hear any of your Stockie nonsense about it! Proper as always.”
Seemingly putting an end to the debate, another person responded: “Not unless you move the border, it’s in Heaton Chapel and that is Stockport, its near the sign sponsored by Blossoms – also from Stockport that says welcome to Stockport.”
The McVities factory has been part of Greater Manchester since it was first built in 1917. Alongside the aforementioned Jaffa Cakes, it’s also where the likes of Penguins and Digestives are made. It has been previously suggested that up to 1.4 million Jaffa Cakes are made each day at the Wellington Road base.
