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X Doesn’t Mark the Spot: Revisiting an Islington Ghost Sign

Correcting the record for the Popham Street ghost sign previously thought to advertise X-Zalia, but now known to be for Nazalia. Photo: Roy Reed.

16 Jul 2024

The Theft of L. Lambert, Timber Merchant

Report of the Theft of the enamel L. Lambert, Timber Merchant sign on Hoxton Street, North London.

1 Oct 2022

Redfern’s Rubber Heels Make Walking a Pleasure Again in Islington

Between a Redfern’s Rubber Heels ghost sign and its partial whitewash in Islington was a mystery layer with pink background. Until now…

14 Dec 2021

John C. Mather, Alwyne Lane

While researching the old painted advertisements of Islington I was contacted by Leo Hornak, a journalist at the BBC. He wanted to record a piece about ghost signs (coming soon), and had grown up in a house with one on the outside. It turned out to be one of those featured in Harvey’s 1999 survey, […]

8 Dec 2017

RIP: Signwriters – Gilding & Pictorial Artists

This beautiful gilded script once marked the home of Ambridge Signs. When they left the premises the sign didn’t come with them and, until last month, it provided a reminder of the area’s signwriting heritage. It was situated on this unassuming building at the end of a terrace on Southgate Road, De Beauvoir, but has now […]

21 Mar 2015

Redfern’s Rubber Heels

Renovations on Islington property reveal a ghost sign for Redfern’s Rubber Heels after stripping back the paint of another ghost sign and partial whitewash.

14 Sep 2007