Ghost signs are the faded, hand-painted adverts on old brick or stone walls. I believe they deserve to be preserved and restored with care, keeping their history and character alive for future generations.
1800’s ghost sign in Oxford.
-Thomas Ward, 46 Leckford rd. Oxford
At 46 Leckford Road, a building with an interesting past - once home to Bill Clinton and Howard Marks - stood a faded ghost sign from the 1800s. The owner asked me to restore the original design using a historic photograph.
The sign advertised T. Ward (& Son), painters who lived and worked here until 1938. After removing traces of a later 1940s sign, I used a dry-brush and sanding technique to recreate the Victorian lettering while keeping an authentic, aged finish.
Early 19th century ghost sign restoration in Gloucester
Textile Emporium, 17 Westgate St. Gloucester
In Gloucester’s city centre, a faded ghost sign revealed the building’s past as a textile emporium. I was invited to repaint the lettering and worked with experienced signwriter Mark Amis to revive, not fully restore, the sign. The goal was to enhance its legibility while preserving its unique character, patina, unusual shadowing, and the stretched, angled lettering that made this piece so distinctive.
The sign explained;
Silk Mercer – A dealer in fine silks and luxury fabrics.
Family Mourning – Clothing and accessories for bereavement, traditionally black attire worn during mourning periods.
Furrier – A specialist in furs, selling garments or trimming made from animal pelts.
Dressmaking – The craft of designing and sewing custom dresses for clients.
Mantlemaking – The making of mantles or mantlesque cloaks—fashionable outer garments in the 19th century.
Costumier – A maker or supplier of costumes, often elaborate garments for special occasions or theatrical use.
I was asked by BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) to write an article about how I sympathetically restored the ghost sign in Gloucester, why I think restoring sympathetically is important and what I think we can do to combat the loss of British ghost signs. Click here to buy issue #5 of the magazine to read the full article or find it on my blog.
british ghost signs
Talgarth, Gloucester, Oxford, Stroud, Carlsile, Exeter
