Saturday 24 March 2012

Shipbourne Road Ghost Sign

A reader contacted me this week with the information that she had spotted a ghost sign in Shipbourne Road.  It's situated high on the side of a building close to the One Stop shop.



I am assuming that what remains visible on the wall is only part of the orginal sign and, for some reason, the remainder has been painted over. It seems doubtful an advertising sign would have been as small as this. The lettering has deteriorated to such an extent that it is illegible, but hopefully someone may have some information to help to solve why it was originally there, and it can then be added to the list of the other 6 ghost signs still remaining in Tonbridge.

If you can help please email tonbridgedaily@gmail.com or comment in the box below.
Posted by at
Labels:

10 comments:

  1. Sam Roberts (Ghostsigns)24 March 2012 at 19:50

    It is likely that for some time a signboard or equivalent covered the spot which is now visible. During this time the rest of the wall was painted while the signboard protected the small fragment underneath. Something very similar happened to two lovely ghostsigns in London. The photos on this blog show clearly the effect of cleaning and weathering on the exposed portions of the signs.

    The shape in your case is interesting, a parallelogram. What sort of logo does the One Stop shop have or are there any other local businesses past or present that use this shape?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tonbridge25 March 2012 at 03:16

    Thanks for this comment - it's really helpful. I will research local businesses in this area. The One Stop is a new shop however there has always been a newagents in this spot. It could be linked.

    In reference to the email you sent - I will add all my findings and photographs to your site. I am glad I can contribute to the amazing research you have done so far in this country and worldwide.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sam Roberts (Ghostsigns)25 March 2012 at 03:30

    Thank you for your kind words and for your contribution. I forgot to add that not too far from you is this repainted ghostsign.

    ReplyDelete
  4. handyplasterer25 March 2012 at 06:15

    The One Stop used to be Brown's Newsagent. I think it was originally run by two brothers and then by one of their sons. Maybe the house owner has more information about the above sign. Brown's had a sign on the side of the building, but it was probably painted over when the shop changed hands.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Martin26 March 2012 at 03:52

    That is #48 which, in the late 1940s, was owned by H. V. Wildash & Sons (Brkrs.).

    A tool-hire company later put up the parallelogram-shaped sign the ghost of which is now visible; that read "Tools for Hire".

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tonbridge26 March 2012 at 05:07

    Thanks Martin - just the information that was needed.

    ReplyDelete
  7. handyplasterer26 March 2012 at 05:12

    Ah, yes, I had totally forgotten about the tool shop!
    I also now remember that the Chinese Take a Way further down, used to be a secondhand shop for children's and babies clothes and toys.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tonbridge26 March 2012 at 08:17

      Yes it was also the secondhand school uniform shop for schools in Tonbridge at one point too.

      Delete
  8. Karen Broomfield20 March 2013 at 20:31

    I was born above the tool hire shop & my father managed it in 1967

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tonbridge21 March 2013 at 03:21

      Thanks for your comment Karen - I hope the post brought back some memories. If there are any photographs you wish to share on the blog please send them to me at tonbridgedaily@gmail.com

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)