Features / ghost signs
Ghosts of Bristol’s past
The writing was on the wall for many of Bristol’s past businesses and industries – quite literally.
Look carefully at buildings across the city and the faded remnants of times gone by are clear to see, from household brands that are still going strong today to once-thriving enterprises that have now been consigned to the books of history.
The ghosts of Bristol’s past can be clear to see in some of the most prominent places – such as the former Whitbread Earl Russell Inn on the corner of a building on Church Road in Lawrence Hill, a spot where old and new meet.
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Some are hidden down residential streets, now almost obscured from view, while others have been uncovered in recent times, for instance, the former grocery shop that is now home to Interlude on St Michael’s Hill and the sign above Pizzarova on North Street that acts as a reminder of the cleaners that was once there.
The Dyers & Bollom Cleaners on North Street probably didn’t offer handmade sourdough pizza – photo: Ellie Pipe
Hovis has long understood the benefits of good advertising – as this ghost sign on Downend Road proves – photo: Ellie Pipe
The old St George post office on Clouds Hill Road was once one of several small shops along this stretch of St George – photo: Ellie Pipe
The F Screen & Sons car ghost sign on what is now a Machine Mart is still visible from Lawrence Hill station – photo: Ellie Pipe
You don’t have to look far in Lawrence Hill to see signs of the neighborhood’s history – photo: Ellie Pipe
The Bristol Institute for the Deaf and Dumb ghost sign is just visible on this building in King Square in Kingsdown – photo: Martin Booth
Can you make out this ghost writing on the side of a building that is now home to Artist Residence on the corner of Cave Street and Portland Square in St Paul’s? – photo: Mia Vines Booth
South Western Tools Limited on New Station Road in Fishponds is still going strong today – photo: Ellie Pipe
A reminder that R H Cox Monumental Works was once based at this home in St George – photo: Ellie Pipe
Jenner & Co drapers and milliners ghost sign overlooking Ashley Road in St Paul’s – photo: Ellie Pipe
The signage of Bristol24/7’s best new cafe of 2023, Interlude on St Michael’s Hill, has been inspired by its ghost sign from a former greengrocers:
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Main photo: Ellie Pipe
Read next:
- Ghost sign revealed of former shop
- Things you probably didn’t know about Christmas Steps
- Bristol’s smallest plaque and its connection with the clocks going back
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