Halloween is here and Historic England wants heritage building specialists to hunt down spooky remains of the past in the form of ‘ghost signs’.
Old hand-painted advertising and shop signs on the side of buildings that have long ago changed use are all examples of ghost signs.
Created in house paint containing lead, the signs adhere through time and “whisper” from the past to the present. They are found in alleyways, rooftops, and amid more modern high street signage.
Historic England argues they are an important part of the historic fabric of our high streets, and tell us about our collective architectural, cultural and social history.
Hidden in plain sight
The charity wants to capture photos of ghost signs and is asking people to send them in here. Many are hidden in plain sight and most people will be able to spot them once they know what to look for.
A walking trail and short documentary on ghost signs have been made in Great Yarmouth. Norfolk Museums Service youth engagement officer Alex Day narrated the short film and said: “When you start to search for ghost signs you notice them everywhere. Large murals of commerce waiting to be found.
“Ghost signs in Great Yarmouth have been devised into a walk trail for everyone to be inspired by and imagine the people and stories that once occupied the town.
“Whoever painted these ghost signs probably wouldn’t have imagined that we’d be out here making a documentary about them. They weren’t intended for a 21st-century consumer navigating with Google Maps looking for fast food and fast fashion.”
