The ghost signs of Bristol

Ghost signs are the faded, hidden and lost reminders of Bristol’s past. The handpainted signs can be found – if you look hard enough – on many gable ends or prominent building on the main routes into the city.

They are sometimes colourful and extravagant; sometimes businesslike and functional.

Here some of the signs we’ve traced down across Bristol. There must be more; we’d love to see any examples of these beautiful ghost signs near you. 

Windmill Hill

Tucked away on the side of a house on Fraser Street, over looking Victoria Park in Windmill Hill; this evocative advertisement for Fry’s must have been seen across the city. 

Lawrence Hill

Brief and to the point this ‘Car Showrooms’ sign is on a building on Church Road, next to Lawrence Hill rail station.  

And, if you go onto the station platform, you get a great view of this sign on the same building, which is now Machine Mart:

Below is the building next door to the Machine Mart shop in Lawrence Hill in its heyday. Taken in 1918, the postcard shows a number of signs. In the distance is one for Rogers Home Brewed. On the left is a sign for Adams Timber Sanitary Yard and sign for Reckitt’s Blue and a wonderful milk advertisement is above it.

Photo credit: Bristol Records Office

You can clearly see the Car Showrooms sign on the building next door today but the Reckitts sign and the lovely one of the milkmaids are long gone.

St Paul’s

You’ve probably driven past it hundreds of times but the Jenner and Co sign is on a landmark building, best viewed coming up Lower Ashley Road from the M32.  

Bedminster

We suspect this sign for E.S.&A Robinson Ltd Colour Printers may have had a touch-up when the building was converted into flats.  

St George

Sometimes ghost signs are uncovered when the building is developed. This sign for St George Post Office is on show again on Clouds Hill Road – but for how long?

You can see a photo of the original post office here.

St Paul’s

It may not be the grandest sign but this is on a building on Upper York Street. 

Lawrence Hill

It’s back to Church Road in Lawrence Hill for this ghost sign. It may be faint but scroll down and you’ll see the original sign posted on the Bristol Then and Now page by Paul Townsend.

(Photo credit: Paul Townsend/Creative Commons) 

Clifton

It’s hard to make out now but this ghost sign on the corner of Worrall Road and Black Boy Hill must have been spectacular in its day. 

Kingsdown 

Bravo to Psychopomp microdistillery for truly embracing ghost signs.

Resisting the urge to rip out the original shop frontage they have restored the sign to make a striking entrance to the bar.

Lawrence Hill

And finally, back to the mecca of ghost signs , Lawrence Hill. We’d love to know what is behind this modern sign next to Lawrence Hill train station on Church Road. Does anyone remember it? 

Do please email any more examples of ghost signs to pamela@bristol247.com.

Read more: 27 photos of historical Bristol pubs