paris house hove

I’m a total nerd when it comes to old shop signage. Wherever I am, whether it’s walking around my hometown of Brighton and Hove or away on a trip, I like to see if I can spot – what I like to call – ghost signs. It might be a vintage shop entrance mosaic like the one just below, or a faded advert for a business on the side of a building,  or a beautiful old shop sign that’s been unearthed during a renovation project. Whatever it is, I am likely to get very excited!

I’d love nothing more than to time travel down my local high street in its vintage signage heyday and see it as it once was, full of all the art work and shop signs that have disappeared today. I find it so sad that most have gone, but if you look up and around there’s always the chance you’ll see one lurking around. In fact, I’ve spotted quite a few ghost signs around Brighton and Hove now. Seeing I’ve quite a collection I thought I’d take you on a little ghost sign spotting adventure around

the hat box vintage shop floor mosaic brighton
The Hat Box, outside what’s now a tattoo shop on Gardner Street, and dating back to between 1911 and 1940 when the shop was in business

 

The Dependent pub circa 1867, turned bookshop, turned private home on Little Preston Street 
Brewin Butchers established 1848, Upper North Street 
Grand Parade Garage, Trafalgar Street 
The Western Hotel, now The Paris House and flats on Western Road
Pretty Madeira Sun Terrace Cafe, Madeira Drive 
A Parsons & Son Builders & Decorators, Havelock Road 
Abandoned Brighton Hippodrome, Middle Street 
Furniture Showrooms, now a shop selling stamps, Prince Albert Street 
This is actually two ghost signs over one! I think the one in black lettering says EJ Johnson Afternoon Teas. Head to 71a London Road 
Dyeing and Cleaning Works, Sydney Street 

 

The Old Ship Assembly Rooms – a Grade II listed building inside the Old Ship Hotel once used as a ballroom 
The Old Mineral Water Factory turned private residence, Boyces Street 

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