Ghost Signs - A London Story

[RoyReed]

Over the past six months of lockdown I've been working with Sam Roberts (Mr Ghostsigns) to produce a book on London's Ghost Signs - Sam's words and (mainly) my photos. We've teamed up with small publisher Isola Press and have a Kickstarter to raise funds to get the book published and printed. The book will feature about 250 of London's 750+ ghost signs, and will include essays on the production and history of ghost signs in general and an article on each featured sign.







The book will be accompanied by a detailed online map, locating all of the signs. You can see a working copy of the map here. This will be updated once the book is published.

Thanks editor for the article in Brixton Buzz.

 

[marty21]

Sounds interesting, I love a ghost sign!

 

[RoyReed]

The book's about to go to press and can be pre-ordered on the Isola website and is due to be published on 31 October.

 

[RoyReed]

The book's been printed and is now at the distribution centre. They'll start getting sent out from Tuesday, but we're having an online launch via Zoom at 7.30GMT on 15th November. Free for anyone who wants to join in (a Zoom account and registration is required.)

 

[RoyReed]

Some sample pages

 

[marty21]

Looking forward to getting this.

 

[Pickman's model]

Looking forward to getting this.

Me too

 

[marty21]

Mine has arrived

 

[hash tag]

I love a ghost sign but have only just found this thread.
I searched for it because this has just cropped up in the news

Historic England asks for ‘ghost sign’ photos to create online map

Halloween-timed initiative is partly to encourage new audiences to look up at the rich history on high streets

www.theguardian.com

Ghost Signs | Historic England

Ghost signs are the fading advertising signs, or shop signs that are preserved on buildings longer than the businesses they represent.

historicengland.org.uk

 

[RoyReed]

I love a ghost sign but have only just found this thread.
I searched for it because this has just cropped up in the news

Historic England asks for ‘ghost sign’ photos to create online map

Halloween-timed initiative is partly to encourage new audiences to look up at the rich history on high streets

www.theguardian.com

Ghost Signs | Historic England

Ghost signs are the fading advertising signs, or shop signs that are preserved on buildings longer than the businesses they represent.

historicengland.org.uk

If anyone's thinking of donating their photos to Historic England's map, you should read their Ts&Cs first.

Missing Pieces Project: Contribution Terms and Conditions | Historic England

These terms set out the basis on which you may post a Contribution to the National Heritage List for England.

historicengland.org.uk

I should add that my co-author Sam Roberts has been trying to get Historic England to do something on the existence of ghost signs for the last ten years, but now that they've done it at last it's without any reference to Sam or his work as the acknowledged world expert on the (albeit niche) subject.

 

[Pickman's model]

If anyone's thinking of donating their photos to Historic England's map, you should read their Ts&Cs first.

Missing Pieces Project: Contribution Terms and Conditions | Historic England

These terms set out the basis on which you may post a Contribution to the National Heritage List for England.

historicengland.org.uk

I should add that my co-author Sam Roberts has been trying to get Historic England to do something on the existence of ghost signs for the last ten years, but now that they've done it at last it's without any reference to Sam or his work as the acknowledged world expert on the (albeit niche) subject.

when i saw this i thought they might have said to themselves aha there's a market we can make something in

 

[Throbbing Angel]

this tweet reminded me to come and have a look at this thread...

dunno if it is in that London, but nevertheless...

 

[Sue]

The book's been printed and is now at the distribution centre. They'll start getting sent out from Tuesday, but we're having an online launch via Zoom at 7.30GMT on 15th November. Free for anyone who wants to join in (a Zoom account and registration is required.)

View attachment 294751

I missed this thread at the time but actually bought this for a friend's birthday last year. Lovely book!

 

[RoyReed]

I missed this thread at the time but actually bought this for a friend's birthday last year. Lovely book!

Thank you!

 

[blossie33]

RoyReed I thought about you straight away when I read about that article a few days ago!

 

[Spymaster]

Purchased. I'll look forward to that.

Can I get mine signed, Roy?

 

[RoyReed]

Purchased. I'll look forward to that.

Can I get mine signed, Roy?

You can get it signed by me, but Sam lives in Spain now, so that would be difficult. PM me let me know how you could get the book to me for signing.

 

[pbsmooth]

not sure if I saw this thread before but I bought the book when it came out and very much enjoyed it - great photos!

 

[RoyReed]

not sure if I saw this thread before but I bought the book when it came out and very much enjoyed it - great photos!

Thank you!

 

[RoyReed]

A ghost sign in South Woodford (featured in our book) has just been painted out by the owners of the new café that's about to open there. I posted about it on Twitter and had 85,000 views. The owners are now trying to clean off their overpainting after a massive series of complaints from local people. Historic England were informed, but all there's been from them, despite their new found interest in ghost signs, is silence.

The original sign for Lidstone Butchers


The overpainting - carried out at night


The beginnings of the attempt to clean off the overpainting

 

[RoyReed]

If anyone's thinking of donating their photos to Historic England's map, you should read their Ts&Cs first.

Missing Pieces Project: Contribution Terms and Conditions | Historic England

These terms set out the basis on which you may post a Contribution to the National Heritage List for England.

historicengland.org.uk

I should add that my co-author Sam Roberts has been trying to get Historic England to do something on the existence of ghost signs for the last ten years, but now that they've done it at last it's without any reference to Sam or his work as the acknowledged world expert on the (albeit niche) subject.

Just to add, that after a lot of pestering from Sam and me, Historic England have updated the Ts&Cs for contributing photos to their map.

Ghost Signs Terms and Conditions | Historic England

These terms set out the basis on which you may post a Contribution to the Ghost Signs project.

historicengland.org.uk

 

[technical]

Some sample pages

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I got given this for Christmas - and I’m really chuffed with it. Thanks!

 

[RoyReed]

I got given this for Christmas - and I’m really chuffed with it. Thanks!

Glad you like it!

 

[SwanLake]

I was given the book for Christmas, and I love it!

 

[RoyReed]

I was given the book for Christmas, and I love it!

 

[stdP]

Sadly one of our local ghost signs has been smashed to bits relatively recently; the old shop windows for Waygoods Radio just off of Norwood High Street have been smashed:

Waygoods’ Broken Glass, West Norwood | Ghostsigns

Waygoods' Broken Glass, West Norwood, explores the ghost sign for this radio components shop on Chatsworth Way and its unusual form of decay over time.

ghostsigns.co.uk

(Pic taken on my partner's mobile when there was a market on so wasn't able to get the whole thing in one shot - must have been done very recently as there was still broken glass around)

 

[ska invita]

Sadly one of our local ghost signs has been smashed to bits relatively recently; the old shop windows for Waygoods Radio just off of Norwood High Street have been smashed:

Waygoods’ Broken Glass, West Norwood | Ghostsigns

Waygoods' Broken Glass, West Norwood, explores the ghost sign for this radio components shop on Chatsworth Way and its unusual form of decay over time.

ghostsigns.co.uk

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(Pic taken on my partner's mobile when there was a market on so wasn't able to get the whole thing in one shot - must have been done very recently as there was still broken glass around)

oh no, i know that spot, opposite Greggs....didnt realise it was fragile. Shite

 

[RoyReed]

Sadly one of our local ghost signs has been smashed to bits relatively recently; the old shop windows for Waygoods Radio just off of Norwood High Street have been smashed:

Waygoods’ Broken Glass, West Norwood | Ghostsigns

Waygoods' Broken Glass, West Norwood, explores the ghost sign for this radio components shop on Chatsworth Way and its unusual form of decay over time.

ghostsigns.co.uk

View attachment 407312
View attachment 407315
(Pic taken on my partner's mobile when there was a market on so wasn't able to get the whole thing in one shot - must have been done very recently as there was still broken glass around)

That's really bad. Thanks for letting me know.

This is what the sign looked like when I photographed it back in 2016.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

This used to be a fruit shop until recently. Been there about 20 years. Kendal, Cumbria.

Fruitier (sp) sign removed revealed this.

I'll have an ounce of Cherry Shag and a return to Whitby please, shopkeep!

 

[RoyReed]

Can anyone have a go at decoding this very faded ghostsign at 6 Queen Square, Holborn.


Faded Ghostsign by Roy Reed, on Flickr

I've checked back for clues in these PO directories.

1841


1895


1910


1915


1039


If anyone wants to look really closely at the ghostsign I've got a very large 48bit TIF file (approx 17500x4250px). It's about 430MB, so I'd have to share it via WeTransfer. PM me with your email address if you want a look.