Welcome to Words on Walls by Sam Roberts. If you value my research and writing on ghost signs then please make a one-off or regular contribution to keep it going. And thank you to those that have already done so – you’re the best!
Return of the Poland Street Ghost Signs
This week on the blog I’ve documented the remarkable return of these two iconic London ghost signs. They were presumed ‘dead and buried’ back in February, but council funding and diligent work by art restorers Plowden & Smith has led to their return. Perhaps we should now call them ‘zombie signs’…
Where Were These Beecham’s Signs?
This incredible triple was likely captured somewhere in Leeds by photographer Peter Mitchell. However, efforts to determine the precise location have so far proved futile. Can you help track them down?
Geoffrey Fletcher's London
I’ve always enjoyed literary references to ghost signs. The above is from Geoffrey Fletcher's London (1968) and I’d love to know if there are any visual records beyond the book itself? Or if any of the signs survive and can be pinpointed from the sparse descriptions above? The book is out of print, but not too expensive on second-hand sites.)
A. Cooke’s Repainting
While writing Ghost Signs: A London Story we learned of this signs’ repainting. It was a popular sign, as was the business it once adorned, which is still trading elsewhere.
The full story of the firm, and its claims to fame, can be found in the book. But here I offer up this before and after in contrast to the work above for the Poland Street signs.
The location is here if you want to see it for yourself.
Richard Nicholls of Wells
This piece in Wells was kindly captured and shared by Mark Noad. He has asked about its age, and whether it might be the UK’s oldest ghost sign? (It’s carved and painted, so perhaps falls between the cracks of our regular definition and is up against competition from this aged one from Bath.)
The date of the building isn’t entirely clear, but there may be clues in the lettering, spellings, and names included on the sign…
Articles of Note
The Stealthy Politics of Urban Advertising by Samuel Holleran, in which he explores notions of ‘legitimacy’ across various forms of communications in our cities.
Let Kinloch Castle fall into curated decay – and become the ruin that Scotland needs by Fraser MacDonald, which echoes the ‘let them age gracefully’ approach to ghost signs preservation.
A Practical Guide to Historic Signs with Darren McLean, exploring the materials and techniques used to produce painted wall signs in the past.
Euston Underground Station – The Lost Tunnels by A London Inheritance, which presents a 1960s graphic time capsule.
Top of the Tweets
I trawl the ‘feed’ so that you don’t have to. You can follow and tag me here.
Remember when the Beatles did ghost signs?
A superb palimpsest in Frome.
A skyward message (aka Roofad) in Bath.
A head for heights. (We have included part of this photo in the Sign Production chapter of the book.)
See also Ghost of the British Legion in Ypres, Belgium.
Blast from the Past
I’ve written hundreds of blog posts and it’s easy to forget the older ones. The topic of this film came up in conversation, and so here it is again for your enjoyment: Dewar’s x Shepard Fairey x Colossal Media (2007).
Thank you for reading Words on Walls by Sam Roberts. If you value my research and writing on ghost signs then please make a one-off or regular contribution to keep it going. And thank you to those that have already done so – you’re the best!