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Fading painted signs with Sam Roberts

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Protection

22 Hovis Ghost Signs Across the Capital

Documentation of Hovis ghost signs across London, including archival photos and contextual research.

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Preservation, Signs of Note

Restoration Period: My Monotype Recorder Article Now Available to Read Online

Extended article examining what to do about ghost signs in terms of conservation, restoration, and protection.

Categories Sign Preservation, Signs in Media

N.E. Signs Appreciation Society Wins Appreciation from Hackney Council

Update on work to document and protect Hackney’s surviving street signs with the now-defunct N.E. postal district, including successful Hackney Society lobbying.

Categories Sign Collections, Sign Preservation

Two Paris Beauties Under Wraps

A couple of years ago these two well-preserved ghost signs were revealed in Paris (see Streetview), presumably by the removal of billboards that covered and … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Signs of Note

The Enduring Legacy of the Joshua Brothers Distillery

Pickles Street in Melbourne was once home to the Joshua Brothers Distillery, and later United Distillers. The latter adorned the building with a series of … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation

Ancient Lights in English Law

This blog post highlights an entire category of fading painted signs that I have never come across. They are for ‘ancient lights’ and reference an … Read more

Categories Sign Stories, Signs of Note

Venos & Veglio Reveals on Oxford Street

The above ghost sign was revealed a couple of years ago by the redevelopment of a site on the North side of the Eastern end … Read more

Categories Signs of Note

RIP: London Co-Op, Frederic Street

This ghost sign for the London Co-Operative Society on Frederic Street, London E17, has now been partially covered by new signage for the Still Bar … Read more

Categories Sign Stories, Signs in Media, Signs of Note

The Vacuum Shop and George Braun

Guests on my Stoke Newington Ghostsigns Walk in early 2015 were lucky to see a bonus fading fascia en route, advertising The Vacuum Shop. This … Read more

Categories Sign Making, Sign Stories

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

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
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
Painted sign on a wall advertising 'Hospital for Horses and Dogs'

Skirting the Edges of a Ghostsign in Washington DC

Here is a new (to me at least) approach to respecting ghostsigns while undertaking building renovations/property development. The host wall of this sign in Washington … Read more

Categories Signs of Note
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
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
Ghostsign in Ypres, Belgium, advertising details for visitors from the British Legion

Ghost of the British Legion in Ypres, Belgium

This intriguing English-language ghostsigns is found in Ypres, Belgium, and has been identified for protection given its historical significance. I was alerted to it by … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Sign Stories, Signs of Note
Fading hand-painted sign on a Hackney wall advertising Blooms Pianos

Local Listed Status for Hackney Ghost Signs

Love Local Landmarks, an English Heritage-backed project, has been successful in gaining local listing status for two of Hackney’s most famous ghostsigns. The Blooms Piano … Read more

Categories Sign Initiatives, Sign Preservation, Signs of Note
Scaffolding on a ghostsign for the Little Theatre in Vancouver

A novel approach to ghostsign conservation from Vancouver

This ghostsign for the Little Theatre in Vancouver is the subject of a unique preservation effort prompted by the efforts of the Grandview Heritage Group. … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation, Signs of Note
Hand painted sign on a building in Australia advertising HMV

Conservation guidelines for ghostsigns in Australia

This report, Conserving Historic Signs, was written in 2002 and published by the Heritage Office, Department of Planning, State of New South Wales in 2006. I … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation

To paint or not to paint: preservation debate over Tempe ‘eyesore’

The ghostsigns on this flour mill have sparked debate over the desirability of a whitewashing as part of planned developments.  In this article [Link expired], … Read more

Categories Sign Preservation
Van Houten's Cacao de Beste

Writing on the Wall working to preserve and restore ghostsigns in the Netherlands

This organisation in the Netherlands was established in 1999 and has been working ever since to raise the profile of hand painted wall advertising in … Read more

Categories Sign Initiatives, 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
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  • Signs in Media
  • Inspired by Signs

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