Dairy & Butter, Kingston

The only piece of information about the property this ghost sign is painted on I could find dates from 1913, when, according to Kelly's Directory of Surrey, it was occupied by grocer William Packham. Could he have been the retailer behind this ghost sign?

Dairy
New Milk [?]
Eggs
Cream
Butter

Location: Elm Road

King, corn flour and seed merchant, Kingston

Corn Flour		... King		& Seed Merchant
Hay, Strawchaff, Meals, Etc.

Location: Canbury Avenue

Drapery stores, Kingston

This drapery shop in Kingston may have been fairly modest but the ghost sign that once advertised it is rather elegant with its different typefaces and curvy lines.

Cheap
& Good
Drapery
Stores
-------
Goods
Paid
... By
Weekly
Payments

The style of this ghost sign would suggest it is more than a century old but I have not found any mention of a draper on Acre Road in trade directories or in any other document.

Unfortunately both the 1878 edition of the Post Office Directory of Surrey and the 1891 edition of Kelly's Directory of Kent, Surrey & Sussex do not include street numbers (several shopkeepers and a dress maker -no draper though- had their premises on Acre Road and one might have been behind this sign) and by 1913, the wall this sign was painted on separated a grocer from a furniture dealer according to Kelly's Directory of Surrey.

Location: Acre Road / Pictures taken in June 2013

Jackson, Kingston

Clarence Street in Kingston upon Thames has two ghost signs: the enigmatic Local Arms China and, a few metres away and partly hidden, one for a shoemaker by the name of Jackson.

... L. Jackson
Bespoke
Shoemaker

However, for now, the sign for Jackson is partially hidden by a scaffolding erected in front of the building next door. Whatever happens to that building, let's hope it won't lead to the sudden disappearance of yet another ghost sign.

The sign visible on the photo replaced an earlier one but not enough of it can be deciphered to tell whether it was also promoting Jackson's shoemaking workshop or a different business.

Location: Clarence Street / Picture taken in September 2008

Shoe repairs, Kingston

For years this ghost sign painted on wood stood in front of the Fairfield Bus station in Kingston. However last weekend I noticed the door underneath had been replaced and the sign removed.

First
Class
Shoe
Repairs
By
Experts
Heel Bar
Service
Location: Fairfield North / Picture taken in April 2008

Local Arms China, Kingston

Here is a most intriguing sign, or rather name: "Local Arms China". What could that have been? A souvenir shop maybe, as "Picture Postcards" could suggest? I once headed to the local library, hoping to find a mention or a picture of that particular shop, but I had to give up after going through the whole local history shelf. So here I am, still scatching my head everytime I'm Kingston and pass in front of this building. If anyone could help, that would be most appreciated. Otherwise I'll go bold very soon!

Picture Postcards
Local Arms China
Location: Clarence Street / Picture taken on: 08/09/2008

The Fighting Cocks, Kingston

The Fighting Cocks might have opened in 1890, as proclaimed on this wall, but this painted sign is very recent.


Two photos were stiched to recreate the whole sign.

Location: Fairfield North / Picture taken on: 15/04/2008