• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Ghost signs of Birmingham

The Russell Road view of the sign was 2 years ago, Janice’s photo was six years ago and the second image in post #1472 was 10 years ago. It’s going to fade away, as much of the sign has already faded badly. Is there anything that can be done to preserve them, like painted with a preservative ? In some ways it would be better if the old ones that have been uncovered behind modern hoardings, remained covered up. But then we wouldn’t get to appreciate their historical contribution to our streets. Sad.

Viv.
 
Last edited:
These on a building also on Shaftmoor Lane/Spring Road are peeping out from beneath later signs. One is particularly vivid. My guess is they’re relatively modern as they’re peeling and decaying. Older ones seem to stay visible longer. Maybe because of the materials used to paint them. Viv.

11D96F49-A164-460B-AED6-9C9C2BA146A2.jpegC966F491-98C2-4305-A4C6-3703D681B293.jpeg
 
Pity they are allowed to cover them with those ugly new signs.
These on a building also on Shaftmoor Lane/Spring Road are peeping out from beneath later signs. One is particularly vivid. My guess is they’re relatively modern as they’re peeling and decaying. Older ones seem to stay visible longer. Maybe because of the materials used to paint them. Viv.

View attachment 174484View attachment 174485
 
This is tucked away between buildings on Coleshill Road. Looks like the neighbouring building was an infill between a broken parade of shops. If anyone’s passing, it’d be great if they could get a better image of the sign. The bottom line looks like ”stores” (?) to me. Viv.

DB96552C-4D36-41A7-8589-233FA1101D4F.jpeg
 
A ghost sign of a sign maker! This is the location of the well-known sign “painter up a ladder”, gone some years ago now (next to the former Cross Keys pub Station Rd/Sutton Rd, Erdington).Even the sign designers premises have been vacated, leaving only this ‘sign’ of their former presence. Viv.

4664EC8F-9BB6-45A2-8E65-691CF9038980.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • 086DF793-AF49-4197-B8E1-945E7FB0DC1D.jpeg
    086DF793-AF49-4197-B8E1-945E7FB0DC1D.jpeg
    508.8 KB · Views: 8
A ghost sign of a sign maker! This is the location of the well-known sign “painter up a ladder”, gone some years ago now (next to the former Cross Keys pub Station Rd/Sutton Rd, Erdington).Even the sign designers premises have been vacated, leaving only this ‘sign’ of their former presence. Viv.

View attachment 174607
That is a real pity. As a former regular at The Cross Keys that sign (below) became very familiar to me during the 70s/80s, as it did to passing drivers and bus passengers over the years. It was very realistic and often mistakenly seen as being an actual man on a ladder. Birmingham Live reported in 2016, that it had been moved by the company to their new premises in Olton, after being in that same spot for over sixty years. At that time, a company spokesman had said that "the painting will still have pride of place at the new base, even if it might not be seen to the public. He'll be going up somewhere or other."
1667659051192.png
 
Again in Erdington, on High Street (Edwards Road junction) - a nice example. Has this been recently uncovered ? The Edwards Road cast iron street sign must have been moved further down at some time. Viv.

86D315CC-12A2-46F3-B06A-DF457CB99629.jpeg
 
That is a real pity. As a former regular at The Cross Keys that sign (below) became very familiar to me during the 70s/80s, as it did to passing drivers and bus passengers over the years. It was very realistic and often mistakenly seen as being an actual man on a ladder. Birmingham Live reported in 2016, that it had been moved by the company to their new premises in Olton, after being in that same spot for over sixty years. At that time, a company spokesman had said that "the painting will still have pride of place at the new base, even if it might not be seen to the public. He'll be going up somewhere or other."
View attachment 174610
I can't get this any clearer as the premises are at the back of some houses but it looks as if the man is still up his ladder - doubt it is the original though.
1667746101047.png
 
I can't get this any clearer as the premises are at the back of some houses but it looks as if the man is still up his ladder - doubt it is the original though.
View attachment 174669
Thanks for that. It might just be the original. Their spokesman had been quoted as follows on Birmingham Live, "The painting will still have pride of place at the new base, even if it might not be seen to the public. He'll be going up somewhere or other. We haven't got the same proximity to the road as we did at the old place but we'll make sure he's here somewhere."
 
Unusually the whole parade seems to be signed as “West End Stores”. It’s located around #1159 Warwick Road. Viv.

C389DA65-0786-446C-9E60-941830F708E3.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • E401E8D7-8ADC-4851-8E15-9FFDDA29359F.jpeg
    E401E8D7-8ADC-4851-8E15-9FFDDA29359F.jpeg
    249.7 KB · Views: 11
Unusually the whole parade seems to be signed as “West End Stores”. It’s located around #1159 Warwick Road. Viv.

View attachment 175093
Remember the block of shops, in fact had my first ever bike from the shop now called "Hawam". A Phillips 24" wheel bike, I had to have the pedals made square so that I could reach, would have been around 1946. So as far as I can recall the shops were individual even then.
 
Unusually the whole parade seems to be signed as “West End Stores”. It’s located around #1159 Warwick Road. Viv.

View attachment 175093
Tustins are a well-known family business in Acocks Green. They first appear in the directories right at the end of the nineteenth century as J.C. Tustin, grocer, at West End House. Mrs Tustin is listed at Clarendon House nearby in 1900, and in 1905 John Charles is living at Moreton Villa next to the shop. By 1912 Frederick J. Tustin is listed across the road as a butcher, in the fourth of the new shops north of Oxford Road. These businesses became numbered as 1163-5 and 1174 Warwick Road.
In 1938 road widening obliged the family to build new premises on the west side of the road, and these still stand, with the name West End Stores above them.
 
Hi All

Does anyone have any info or pics of Hack Street, Digbeth. I am particularly interested in this street as there are several remains of ghost signs of previous business trades that have been there over-lapping eachother. It would be good see any visibly evidence of the signs may have looked.

Thank you.
Hi Gez. There used to be a pub on the corner of Hack and Allcock street called The Great Western Inn it was a Davenports pub. I lived there in the late 60's my stepfather was the licensee. It has since been demolished. If you research the midlandspubs web site there is a photo of it. Opposite was a scrap metal yard, I think it was for non-ferrous metals, looking on google it is now Pars Autos. Hope this helps your research.
 
I’m thinking this was once a Post Office judging by the letters peeping out from under the blue sign. It’s at 73-75 Aston Road North, at the junction with Holland Road West. It has VR above the doorway and a night safe door on the Holland Road West side. Viv.

6B4701FC-069A-4081-9183-AC74A00DC9F9.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • 62588995-5529-4633-9810-41043D0B2410.jpeg
    62588995-5529-4633-9810-41043D0B2410.jpeg
    192.6 KB · Views: 9
  • E837E15C-6E65-4262-B061-CCE9DA1779D3.jpeg
    E837E15C-6E65-4262-B061-CCE9DA1779D3.jpeg
    151.7 KB · Views: 7
  • AC706BAF-9504-4907-A40D-7844F28FE904.jpeg
    AC706BAF-9504-4907-A40D-7844F28FE904.jpeg
    205.9 KB · Views: 8
I’m thinking this was once a Post Office judging by the letters peeping out from under the blue sign. It’s at 73-75 Aston Road North, at the junction with Holland Road West. It has VR above the doorway and a night safe door on the Holland Road West side. Viv.

View attachment 175743
Certainly was a Post Office Viv, what a difference from this picture, such a shame.
 

Attachments

  • AstonRdN50.jpg
    AstonRdN50.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 24
Thanks Janice, was wondering about the full title under the modern sign. Seemed like a long space to just say “Post Office”. Viv,
 
You can see it on the photo posted by Brummy-lad in post #1491 as well. Looks as if it might just have been carved at first and the paint came later.
 
As the building was Victorian, hence the VR insignia and Aston was not incorporated within Birmingham until 1911, I presume it was the General Post Office for Aston.
 
Used to collect the family allowance for my mom from Aston Manor Post Office many many year's ago now, also had a saving's account there when i first started work, that never amounted to a sight though.
Last went in there in 1972, wow that went by pretty quickly.
 
Back
Top