Wednesday 28 July 2010

Ghost signs (39): wrong way around

These two Wolverhampton ghost signs are a short walk apart, but in rather different states of repair and relevance.


James Baker & Sons, boot manufacturers, no longer occupy these fine premises. Indeed, the factory closed in the 1970s after making boots and shoes for over 120 years. However, their sign lives on in rather fine condition (albeit with added windows).


By contrast, Dixon's large sign may still loom over the tramlines but it's looking rather faded and timeworn. Yet it's technically not a ghost sign at all, since the business - ironically, 'paints, wallcoverings and papers' - is still going strong.

Finally, here's a bonus sign. The picture is pretty terrible because it was taken through the window of a moving coach, but the sign is rather nice. It's in Gornal, and advertises 'Five Ways Drug Stores. Oils & Colours.' A very close look shows that it has been repainted at least once.


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