Mystery

The Mirrored Owl Cigars of San Francisco

Early twentieth century photos show an Owl Cigars sign in reverse on a huge San Francisco wall. But why was it painted like that?

26 Jul 2024

An Eye Test at Bateman’s Bournemouth Opticians

A ghost sign for the former Bournemouth optician, Bateman’s, is a contemporary test for the eyes in Boscombe, Bournemouth. Photo: Paul Godier.

6 Mar 2024

Medical and Surgical Home, Catharine Place, Bath

The mysterious location of the Medical and Surgical Home ghost sign on Catharine Place, Bath. Photo: Tim Lindsay.

24 Feb 2024

Are These London’s Most Elusive Trio of Ghost Signs?

Are These London’s Most Elusive Trio of Ghost Signs? Seeking clues for S. Louis & Co in Shoreditch, A.E. Cresswell (bakery), and a dairy in Shepherd’s Bush.

15 Feb 2021

Lancell Road’s Mystery Ghost Sign

[Download in high resolution] At 49 Stoke Newington Church Street, junction with Lancell Road, is this fragment of a ghost sign which, despite my best efforts, has remained a mystery in terms of decyphering. It would once have extended further to the right to fill the chamfer, but this portion was left exposed and subsequently […]

2 Nov 2018

Paper & Bags: Spitalfields Mystery

Philip Marriage got in touch with the photograph above, taken in the Spitalfields area in 1985. It is part of a wider collection of archive photos that he has, many published on the Spitalfields Life blog here. Philip has been trying to pinpoint the locations of each of his photos, with some being easier than […]

6 Oct 2016