2 May 2014
F.C. Osborn and the Fading Fascias
This beautiful shop fascia was recently revealed on Dalston Lane, Hackney, London, as part of renovations to the shop by a new tenant. (Thanks Bryce for tipping me off!). The following photos show some of the detail of this sign for F.C.Osborn, Bookseller, who occupied the premises from the mid-1920s to at least 1950. Prior to 1928 it was home of Alf Plummer in the related trade of ‘Newsagent’. By 1967 Osborn was gone.
![Fading shop fascia for F.C.Osborn Bookseller](https://ghostsigns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/F.C.Osborn-Dalston-Lane-2-600x106.jpg)
![Fading shop fascia for F.C.Osborn Bookseller](https://ghostsigns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/F.C.Osborn-Dalston-Lane-3-600x257.jpg)
![Fading shop fascia for F.C.Osborn Bookseller](https://ghostsigns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/F.C.Osborn-Dalston-Lane-4-600x266.jpg)
I’ve previously covered similar ‘reveals‘, most recently the D.Appell sign on Stamford Hill that was uncovered by the strong winds back in February. That one is now buried again, under a sign for the current occupants, Roti Stop. This is often the nature of these ‘fading fascias’, being visible for just weeks, or even days, at a time. I have only recently started to capture them in earnest and have gathered a small collection already (see a handful below). I think that this will become my next publishing venture so if you have any you’d like to contribute then please email me with photos.
![Painted shop fascia for R.Sullivan](https://ghostsigns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/R.Sullivan-Southwark-Bridge-Road-600x450.jpg)
![Painted shop fascia for R.Lewis](https://ghostsigns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/R.Lewis-Stoke-Newington-Road-600x450.jpg)
![Painted shop fascia for J.H.Pepperell](https://ghostsigns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/J.H.Pepperell-Great-Titchfield-Street-600x450.jpg)
![Painted shop fascia for E.Mono](https://ghostsigns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/E.Mono-Kentish-Town-High-Street-600x450.jpg)
![Carved and painted (perhaps gilded) shop front for C.W.Toop](https://ghostsigns.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/C.W.Toop-Upper-Clapton-Road-600x450.jpg)