Photo by robo2004
First up is this one for Fieldings' General Warehousemen who seem to have had their sign paid for by Standard Fireworks. The building was completely demolished as part of a wider clearance following a raging fire in an adjacent mill. Thanks robo2004 for the original photo and the news of this sign's loss. If anyone else has any photos of this sign please do send them to me as we currently only have this small one for the archive and future reference.
Photo by Isisbridge
Next up from Isisbridge is news that property developers are plotting the destruction of this corner building in Jericho, Oxford. The building is home to two very distinctive signs that made use of the blocked out windows. These touted the tea and coffee once presumably available to buy on the premises. A campaign is afoot to save the building and the signs but don't be surprised if a full RIP appears on this site soon, although you can play your part in the campaign here [Update: Campaign closed, results here]. Thanks Isisbridge for the news, keep me posted as the story develops...
Photo by Isisbridge
Photo by Isisbridge
On the Geo. Lumley signs, what are the 1/4 and 2/6 numerals (fractions) for??? Does anyone know?
ReplyDeleteThis story and a good account of a number of other Oxfordshire signs was picked up in the Oxford Times.
ReplyDelete@Peter Vogel:
ReplyDeleteThey are abbreviations for prices in pre-decimal British currency.
A pound has twenty shillings each of which consisted of twelve pence thus
1/4 is one shilling and four pence,
2/6 is two shillings and six pence, more popularly known as a half-crown and for which there was a popular coin.
Just come across your website and was dismayed to see the item regarding the signs in Jericho, Oxford. I wrote the article for the Oxford Times a year ago now and it was published in February. This is one of the best examples of wall painted adverts in the county now. One in Henley on Thames that I mentioned in the article had been painted over with a modern sign. It all goes to show the importance of recording what you see today for tomorrow it may have been demolished, painted over or simply obscured by later buildings.
ReplyDeleteThanks AW for the correction on the date of the article. These are indeed excellent examples of the hand painted form and there are still a good number across the UK and Ireland. This is the focus of the archive project currently being undertaken by the history of advertising trust and a large cohort of photographers across the country. See this Flickr group, this Facebook group and this blog posting for more details.
ReplyDelete