I didn’t ask you whether you believe that ghosts are seen, but whether you believe that they exist.
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment
Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever seen one? Maybe not, but there is one sort of ‘ghost’ we can all see: the ghost sign.
Wikipedia defines a ghost sign as:
an old hand-painted advertising sign that has been preserved on a building for an extended period of time. The sign may be kept for its nostalgic appeal, or simply indifference by the owner.
Less indifferent owners sometimes maintain the sign, adding a fresh coat of paint from time to time. That makes them easier to spot, but less ghostly. My feature photo, taken near Trinity Buoy Wharf in east London, is one such I suspect.
Some people make a hobby of hunting out and photographing these old signs. Historic England enlisted the help of the general public to put together a map showing the location of over 2,500 in this country alone! However, having checked my local area of Ealing I would dispute that all of those marked on the map are genuine ghost signs, while they are missing the two from my area that I’ve included here.
I’m not a dedicated ghost sign hunter, but I do like to spot them and always take a photo when I do. I’ve amassed quite a selection over recent years so thought it was time to pull together a gallery to share.
While these aren’t public art by any normal definition I do feel some of them have acquired a little of that status so (a little cheekily!) I’m linking to Natalie’s Photographing Public Art challenge. Most of these were photographed in London but a handful elsewhere in the country. Some are clear and easy to read while others are almost illegible. I hope you have fun trying to make them out.
Hover over any image to discover the location, or click on any to open a slideshow of all.
43 Comments
leightontravels
Mm, great post Sarah. Don’t believe in ghosts, never seen a ghost, love ghost signs! Actually, I wasn’t aware of the term, so thanks for that. Love your gallery, which has been so carefully put together. Nestle’s Milk might just be my favourite here. While I’m sure I don’t have as many of you, it made me realise I could probably cobble together a collection of my own if I were to scour the archives. I believe I saw one in Shaftesbury last month and before that a fantastic cluster in and around the Jewellery Quarter and former Bird’s Custard factory in Birmingham.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Leighton 🙂 It’s amazing how many of these you notice once you start looking! The Nestle’s Milk is my most recent and might just be one of my favourites too, along with the Public Shelter sign.
Annie Berger
After being drawn in by your title, I enjoyed looking at the images, having never heard of ghost signs anywhere before. I’ll have to check if there are also ghost signs here in the U.S.!
Sarah Wilkie
There are plenty I believe Annie 😀 I have one myself, from Seattle (Pioneer Square) but decided in the end not to use it as all the others were from the UK!
grandmisadventures
I had never heard of ghost signs before- but that is my kind of ghost story! 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Good to hear 😀 Hunting for ghost signs is quite a thing here.
equinoxio21
Ghosts signs now? Interesting. I’ll pay attention…
Sarah Wilkie
Do! Apparently there are plenty in France too 😀
equinoxio21
I can think of a few memories. One on Avenue des Ternes in Paris. A Cadum ad. Wonder whether it’s still there?
Sarah Wilkie
We’ll be in Paris again in September. If we’re in that area I’ll try to remember to look for it!
equinoxio21
September should be good… We’re gonna fry next week… (I have to move to our holidays to September in ’26)
🙏🏻
Sarah Wilkie
A couple of years ago (2023) we fried in early September!
wetanddustyroads
At first I thought it might not be such a good idea to read this post before going to bed, but fortunately, it wasn’t scary 😊. I’m thinking that these names were probably painted on the walls with great pride many years ago. Lovely that you’ve noticed them on your travels.
Sarah Wilkie
Haha, these aren’t the scary sort of ghost at all 👻 Glad you found them interesting.
Graham Stephen
👌👍🌟✨💫
⬻𓂀✧ 🔺 ✬ღ☆ 🔺 ∞ ♡ ∞ 🔺 ☆ღ✬ 🔺 ✧𓂀⤖
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Graham 🙂
Graham Stephen
🙇♂️
Egídio
Fascinating! Just imagine the stories behind those signs.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes indeed, some stories to be told here!
Amy
These ghost sign gallery is great, Sarah! Wonderful observations you have. I haven’t hunted ghost signs around here.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Amy 🙂 Maybe you can hunt some out one day!
Natalie
A fabulous collection of ghost signs, Sarah. I really like the last two photos. Thank you for your public art share.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Natalie 🙂 I’m gad you liked them, even if I was stretching the definition of public art more than a little!
Anne Sandler
We do have a lot of ghost signs in downtown Sacramento. Now I’ll have to go photograph them before they are painted over during Wide Open Walls. You’ve done a great job in capturing the age of the signage.
Sarah Wilkie
Oh yes, I can imagine that Sacramento has them too. I have a couple from the US (e.g. Seattle) but decided to stick to the UK ones for this post. It will be fun to see yours some time if you get and share those photos! Thank you Anne 🙂
Ryan Garden
I never realised until I read your post that these signs are referred to as ghost signs. You learn something new everyday as they say. Thanks for sharing.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Ryan, glad to have introduced you to the term 🙂
bushboy
Fabulous finds Sarah 😀 I enjoy seeing the signs from yesteryear around the place as well
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Brian 😊 I can just imagine that these would be your sort of ‘thing’!
the eternal traveller
Yes, we have them here too and they’re fun to spot. Nice to imagine the goings on of past times.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, they’re interesting glimpses of the past, aren’t they? Glad you have them too!
Jim Earlam
Great pictures Sarah. I’ve never heard the phrase Ghost Sign before let alone know there was a list of them, I’ll have to keep my eyes open! 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Jim 🙂 I guess your walks are often in places without any buildings, let alone ghost signs!
Jim Earlam
Very true! 😀
restlessjo
I’ve never heard them called ghost signs before, Sarah, but it’s a good description and you have a fine collection. I doubt I have more than 2 or 3 xx
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Jo 😀 I think ‘ghost signs’ is the most often used term but there must be others. I started looking out for them when I realised I already had a few and collecting more could turn them into a blog post!
margaret21
These are great Sarah! Well spotted, the Knaresborough one. And that real piece of history pointing to the Public Shelters. I hope all these live on for another good few decades.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 🙂 The Public Shelters one is quite well-known, I believe. There’s also a big letter S on a house wall at the top of the steps down to the shelter.
margaret21
It might be well known, but not to me. That one won’t get painted over any time soon.
Sarah Wilkie
It’s an interesting area for a walk next time you’re in London and free perhaps?
margaret21
👍
Sue
You’ve got some good ghost signs here, Sarah! the public shelters in the vaults under the pavements is a good one
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Sue 😀 You must have recognised Reigate?