Continuing to reveal the hidden stories of Chatham through public art, this week we saw our fifth mural painted.

Luxembourg artist Alain Welter visited Medway for the first time to paint his light-hearted take on The Pet Shop story.

From 1953 until 1961, 417-419 High Street by Luton Arches was home to a pet shop, aptly named ‘The Pet Shop’. Before a change of ownership, the previous shop owner had a pet Humboldt woolly monkey inside, climbing and jumping across the store.

Quite suddenly and unexpectedly, the shop owner, together with his wife, son and daughter, sailed from Chatham to the River Amazon on their sailing craft in search of more Humboldt monkeys, which he planned to sell to zoos for a handsome price. But in late 1961 there was still no information about their whereabouts, and to this day it remains unknown how their voyage fared.

Located on Henry Street, this mural wouldn’t have been possible without the support of mhs homes, the UK’s largest independent landlord, and their tenant who kindly donated the wall.

If you have a wall or local story you’d like to have considered for future murals, please get in touch!