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Fading painted signs with Sam Roberts

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Sign Preservation

Preserving, protecting and restoring ghost signs.

Quernmore Road Signs & Ghostsigns Cluster

Above is my 2007 photo of the Brymay/John Bull palimpsest on Quernmore Road in Haringey. At the time, in addition to wondering who John Bull … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Signs of Note

Painted Advertisements in Islington: Part 1

I am conducting a small investigation into the ghostsigns of Islington and am appealing for help from readers of this blog. The map below (view … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Destinations, Sign Initiatives, Sign Preservation, Sign Stories, Signs in Media
Fading painted sign on a wall advertising Daren Bread

When Daren Became Hovis: A Bizarre Ghostsigns ‘Restoration’

‘Ask for Daren Bread’ was once the simple slogan on this ghostsign on Avignon Road, London, SE4. The above image was taken by Lisa Edwards … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Sign Stories, Signs of Note

RIP: Black Cat Cigarettes

I’m often asked what is my favourite ghostsign. There are many to choose from, but, since first discovering it in 2007, the Black Cat Cigarettes … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation

Light Capsules from Craig Winslow

Craig Winslow is an experiential designer who has recently turned his gaze towards ghostsigns, and the creative possibilities offered by applying his expertise in light … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Folk, Sign Initiatives, Sign Preservation

Yager’s: The House of Value Revealed

Previously covered by billboards, this wonderful ghostsign advertising Yager’s has just been revealed in Stamford Hill. Following many tweets (via @ghostsigns) and emails concerning the … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation

RIP: 154 Bishopsgate EC2

This elegant painted sign adorning the stonework above the entrance to 154 Bishopsgate, London EC2, is no more, recently replaced by mounted metal letters (see … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation

RIP: H. Callcut & Son

The H. Callcut & Son sign that once adorned this house front has now been whitewashed (see below). It was on Blackstock Road in North … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation

The Cat gets the Cream in this Clacton-on-Sea Reveal

[28 July 2015 – This post updated with new images and comments below] This stunning reveal in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex features three ghostsigns. In sequence … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Sign Stories

RIP: Signwriters – Gilding & Pictorial Artists

This beautiful gilded script once marked the home of Ambridge Signs. When they left the premises the sign didn’t come with them and, until last month, … Read more

Categories Sign Folk, Sign Making, Sign Preservation, Sign Stories
Part of shop fascia lettering showing through blackwash

J.R.Brewer, the Butcher

I’d always noticed number 77 Shacklewell Lane because of the ghostsign below. Although very faint, it appears to advertise a business called/run by Grime. Below … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Sign Stories
E.Mono Shop Front

E.Mono in North London

Back in 2011 an old 1920s shop fascia was revealed on Kentish Town High Street. The nature of the E.Mono business remains a mystery but … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Preservation, Sign Stories, Signs of Note
Painting on walls in Pompeii & Herculaneum

Signs & Frescoes in Pompeii & Herculaneum

When I give talks on the history of signs painted on walls I often refer to their ancient history, going back at least as far … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Destinations, Sign Preservation, Signs of Note
Restoration Period spread from Monotype Recorder

Restoration Period in the Monotype Recorder

Last year I was invited to contribute an article on ghostsigns to the reincarnation of the Monotype Recorder periodical. It focused on issues of protection … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Signs in Media
Painted sign on a wall covered by a perspex sheet

Perspex Protecting Ghostsigns from Barcelona to Sydney

This ghostsign for Peters Ice Cream in Sydney was photographed and shared by Mike Meyer while in Australia running signwriting workshops with Better Letters. It … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Signs of Note
Before and after of repainting of Stoakley & Son sign

Ghostsigns Restorations in Cambridge

This is the third and final post in a series documenting recent ghostsign restorations across the UK. It follows coverage of the Palladium Cinema restoration … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Destinations, Sign Initiatives, Sign Preservation
Restored painted sign on a wall for Larkspur Drinks

Larkspur Restoration by Brian the Brush

This is the second of a series of three posts on current ghostsigns restorations in the UK, following last week’s piece on the Palladium Cinema … Read more

Categories Sign Folk, Sign Making, Sign Preservation, Sign Stories
Repainted sign on a wall advertising the Palladium Cinema

Restoration of Palladium Cinema Ghostsign in Morecambe

This is the first in a series of three blog posts documenting current activities in the UK to repaint and restore ghostsigns. It is worth … Read more

Categories Sign Folk, Sign Initiatives, Sign Preservation
Reverse painted glass sign advertising W.A.Higgs

W.A.Higgs & Co: A Stoke Newington Beauty

Walking past Tatreez, the Palestinian restaurant, I spotted this beautiful Victorian sign on the inside. It is clearly a shop fascia which got me wondering … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Sign Stories, Signs of Note
Partial remains of fading painted sign on a brick wall advertising Daren Bread

Time Travel with Google Streetview

This fragment of a ghostsign for Daren Bread in Stoke Newington is one of the stops on my walking tour in the area. Now, thanks … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Sign Stories
RE Ringer General Merchandise store front

Moving Walls to Save a Ghost Sign

In an effort to save this fading and rusting shop front, Beth and Tony Walls moved the entire building 150ft to allow for a highway … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Initiatives, Sign Preservation
Restored painted sign advertising Knis & Gunnink coffee and tea house in Kampen

Tekens Aan De Wand: Ghostsign Restoration in the Netherlands

Tekens Aan De Wand (Writing on the Wall) is a book documenting the collective efforts of local historical societies across the Netherlands to restore ghostsigns. … Read more

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Initiatives, Sign Preservation, Signs in Media
Clipping from Letterheads magazine showing Coca-Cola ghostsign in negative

Mirrored Ghostsign from Portland, Oregon

Following the talk at St Bride, a chain of events led to Ash at Brilliant Signs, via Stewart at McLaren Signs, sending me a copy … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Signs in Media, Signs of Note
Fading painted advertisement on wall alongside piece of street art

Anarchy on the Walls: Ghostsigns, Street Art & Graffiti

Kasey Smith’s ‘Perception Filter‘ blog is well worth a follow for all ghostsigns enthusiasts. Her dispatches from San Francisco have been a big influence on … Read more

Categories Inspired by Signs, Sign Preservation
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Welcome

Hi, I'm Sam. I hope you enjoy learning about fading painted signs on this site. Please get in touch (sam@ghostsigns.co.uk) with discoveries and questions.

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Blog Topics

  • Signs of Note
  • Sign Stories
  • Sign Collections
  • Sign Initiatives
  • Sign Preservation
  • Sign Destinations
  • Sign Folk
  • Sign Making
  • Signs in Media
  • Inspired by Signs

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