Media    From 21/2/1958 

Peace symbol

Categories: Craft / Design, Peace

Designed by Gerald Holtom as a nuclear disarmament logo for the first Aldermaston March, which took place Easter, 4–7 April 1958.

From the Hackney Gazette: "Gerald had first presented the symbol to his colleagues at the Direct Action Committee against nuclear war (DAC) on February 21, 1958, above the Fish and Cook Stationers in Blackstock Road." This conflicts with Wikipedia which says that Holtom took the design to "his local anti-nuclear group in Twickenham".

Holtom would say his inspiration came from images of people in despair but it can't just be coincidence that the overlaid semaphore symbols of "N" and "D" would form this symbol.

The logo was quickly adopted by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and, since Holtom did not copyright the design, it was used worldwide to represent the desire for nuclear disarmament, and more generally, peace. It is one of the most widely recognised designs in history.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Peace symbol

Commemorated ati

Peace symbol

The peace symbol, designed by Gerald Holtom, adopted here 1958. London Boroug...

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Other Subjects

Harold Stabler

Harold Stabler

Designer. Born in Levens, Cumbria. Closely associated with Carter and Company. The London Underground abounds with tiles and decorative ventilation grilles were designed by him. He was also skilled...

Person, Craft / Design

2 memorials
Sir Cecil Beaton

Sir Cecil Beaton

Photographer, painter, interior designer and designer for stage and screen. Born 21 Langland Gardens, Hampstead. Excelling in a number of art forms he had equally catholic tastes in his affairs, wi...

Person, Cinema, Craft / Design, Photography, Seriously Famous, Theatre

3 memorials
George James & Sons

George James & Sons

Blacksmiths in Northamptonshire.  From the Picture source: "We are a family run firm of traditional blacksmiths and have been producing  high quality metalwork from our forge for the past 170 years...

Group, Craft / Design

1 memorial
James Purdey the younger

James Purdey the younger

Gunmaker, built premises in 1880 to house his new showrooms and workshops, James Purdey & Sons Ltd. The Picture Source website has a short on-line history and also informs about a book on the s...

Person, Commerce, Craft / Design

1 memorial