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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Photo-a-Day Archive
Photo-a-Day Archive

Photo-a-Day  (Sunday, 8th August, 2021)

Ghost Sign


Ghost Sign
Ghost Sign in Marus Bridge.

Photo: Mick Byrne  (Panasonic DMC-TZ100)
Views: 2,215

Comment by: irene roberts on 8th August 2021 at 08:22

I always look out for those ghost signs. Sometimes they are adverts for old-type medicines such as Beecham's Pills. and sometimes in fancy writing with swirls and flourishes. I find them fascinating.

Comment by: WN1 Standisher on 8th August 2021 at 09:10

Has the Ben Johnson always been next door but one to this building or was this originally the pub

Comment by: Veronica on 8th August 2021 at 10:12

I too like seeing these 'ghost signs'. Sometimes they are hidden behind old bill boards and they come back to life again when the boards are taken down. And usually on the sides of pubs advertising 'Good Stabling' I find them fascinating too Irene.

Comment by: PeterP on 8th August 2021 at 11:15

On looking up the pub on WW the cottages were the original pub in 1824

Comment by: Linma on 8th August 2021 at 12:13

Irene, old fashioned Beecham’s Pills, I still use Beecham’s today but in liquid form.

Comment by: Gary on 8th August 2021 at 12:24

I seem to recall a ghost sign years ago, around 1964, on the Howfen part of Dicconson Lane, just outside Aspull for Mazawattee tea.

Comment by: irene roberts on 8th August 2021 at 13:18

Linma, I know Beechams are still going as are a lot of the old medicines. We still use Beecham's Powders in our house...Peter swears by them. What I meant was that the ghost adverts are always for things that were popular years ago even if they as still going strong today, I have seen them advertising Cherry Blossom Shoe Polish which is still popular, but not for things such as Lem-Sip which only appeared in later years.

Comment by: Veronica on 8th August 2021 at 14:25

It looks to me as if they gave permission to paint the advert on the wall. Perhaps the owners of the house were paid , just like today. I see signs on houses advertising one thing or another, usually new houses that are being built. I couldn't allow it even if I was paid. But in those days they probably would have been glad of the money. Just a thought.

Comment by: Mick on 8th August 2021 at 15:54

Irene they still have loads of ghost signs in London, there one that I see in Stoke Newington when Im down there saying Fountain Pens Repaired, Any Make,
Have a look at some of these photos, if it dosent type Ghost Signs in Goooogle

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ghost+signs+london&sxsrf=ALeKk03ONeAQbSE6EZb5MnSscSeTzgs7Sg:1628433889354&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiX2I781KHyAhWHX8AKHSwzAKIQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1920&bih=802

Comment by: Axcroft on 8th August 2021 at 18:49

Brilliant, I love to see ghost signs. You can just about still see the WALLACES sign - but hardly make out the letters - on the corner of the building at Coopers Row on Market Place, where Max Spielman's is located.

Comment by: Cyril on 8th August 2021 at 20:31

There's also one on the gable of the house next to Hesketh Refrigeration on Preston Road Standish, it was one for Mark Williams butchers and had their trademark advert of two pigs in a field looking up at a sign of Mark Williams with the heading 'So that's where we go'. It now looks to have had a brush down to try and remove it and isn't as distinct as once was, there's also a window been put in the top right corner too.

Comment by: Axcroft on 8th August 2021 at 22:30

Looked at that one on Google, Cyril.
We need a dedicated Wigan (and district) Ghost Sign posting thread!!
It would help to draw attention to these treasured, yet diminishing. memories. We also have a few EWS signs left, that should not be obliterated.

Comment by: Arthur on 9th August 2021 at 05:51

Beechams started in St Helen's Lancashire in 1849, in 1989 they merged with American firm Pharmaceutical.

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