Pickfords, Rochester

Tucked away in a narrow street, this ghost sign is barely visible from Eastgate, Rochester's main thoroughfare. It was painted on what was certainly used as a depository.

The origins of removal company Pickfords go back to the mid-17th century. Founded by thomas Pickford, it remained in family hands until 1814, when the Pickfords, on the verge of bankruptcy, were forced to sell it. Its new owners expanded it, increasing its presence throughout most of the country. In 1933 Pickfords passed under control of the "big four" railway companies and in 1947 was nationalised alongside them. The Thatcher government privatised it in 1982. For much more information about Pickfords, please visit their website, which includes a history of the company.

Pickfords
Removals
Local Office
24 Railway St.
Chatham

Tele:

Medway 46912

This address appears in a list of Pickfords Travel Branches published in 1977 in the Observer. There is no indication though when they moved in or out of these premises.

Location: Eastgate Terrace, Rochester, Kent / Pictures taken in June 2011

Franklin Homan, Rochester

Around 1903 four houses at the eastern end of Rochester High Street were demolished to make way for the brand new showrooms and warehouse of furnishers Franklin Homan Ltd. A picture taken c. 1900 shows the High Street before work began, with the original office of Franklin Homan Ltd, auctioneers and estate agents. Even though it was not stated on the façade of the office at the time, Franklin Homan was also trading as a cabinet maker and upholsterer (maybe this side of the business was conducted from another office).
One of Homan's most famous customers was Charles Dickens, who contracted him to furnish two bedrooms at Gads Hill Place. The writer, who had purchased this country house in 1856, sent his instructions while visiting the United States for the second time in 1867-1868. Yet upon his return what he discovered was not entirely to his taste and Homan undertook the necessary changes (Dickens considered this to be his, not Homan's fault). Following the death of Dickens in 1870, Franklin Homan was asked to value and sell the furniture and other domestic effects for the executors of the will. He also conducted the writer's funeral. For more information on the relationship between Cahrles Dickens and Franklin Homan, you can refer to A Week's Tramp in Dickens-Land by William R. Hughes (pp. 70-71).
I have not found when Franklin Homan retired or died, nor have I been able to establish the relationship between the two persons who seem to have succeeded him: Franklin George Homan and Hubert Franklin Homan. However I suspect the two sides of the business -auctioneering and sale of properties, and furniture supplier- were kept and F. G. Homan was in charge of the former (his name is often mentioned in relation to legal documents. He died in 1922) while H. F. Homan dealt with the latter. Thus it could be Hubert Franklin Homan who was behind the construction of the large building on the High Street.
Whatever really happened after Franklin Homan left, what is certain is that on July 6, 1938, at a meeting convened at 178, High Street, the members of Franklin Homan Ltd decided to wind up voluntarily the company.
Since then the building has been occupied by several companies and shops, including electrical appliances specialist Seeboard (part of the South Eastern Electricity Board) but none of them removed the two ghost signs found on the gable walls of the former Franklin Homan showrooms and depositories.

Since buildings partly obstruct the view, two photos are necessary to see the whole ghost sign on the west gable wall.


Furniture
Franklin Homan Ltd
Removals and Depositories
Virtually nothing hindered the view of east gable wall. Consequently it was possible to paint a much longer sign, which detailed the activities of the company. Even if part of the sign was oblitarated when three windows were opened, the text can be easily reconstituted.

Carpets
Furniture
Franklin Homan Ltd
The Largest Furnishing
Showrooms in the County
Household Removals
And Depositories.
Location: High Street, Rochester, Kent / Pictures taken in June 2011

Chemist, Rochester

A simple but relatively classy doorstep mosaic greated customers to this chemist's on Rochester High Street. The design seems to date from the inter-war years (but I may be wrong). It was probably laid for Gerald Arthur Morris, who had been trading as a chemist at this address at least since the early 20th century. Business must have been good and in 1904 The Pharmaceutical Journal reported he had opened a new branch pharmacy on Ordnance Street, Chatham. G. A. Morris was a keen photographer and printed several postcards before the First World War. He also offered a photographic developing, printing and enlarging service, as mentioned in a few journals from the early 1920s.
Nowadays the premises are occupied by a hairdresser whose name was certainly inspired by the doorstep mosaic: Hair Chemistry.


Location: High Street, Rochester, Kent / Picture taken on: 26/06/2011

Rochester Co-operative Society, Rochester

Founded in 1884, the Rochester Co-operative Society beginnings were humble. There is very little information about this particular component of the co-operative movement but the few documents available suggest it amalgated with other societies and changed its name accordingly. By the mid-1900s it had evolved into the Rochester and District Co-operative Society, before becoming in the early 1920s the Rochester and District Co-operative and Industrial Society Ltd.
In the mid-1920s the co-operative owned several oulets located at 21-27 and 33 High Street. Some of these were demolished and in 1928 a brand new department store was inaugurated. There, by the main entrance, the Co-operative proudly displayed its logo on a doorstep mosaic.

RCS
If the logo incorporated only the initials of the original co-operative society, its full name -Rochester and District Co-operative and Industrial Society Ltd- stretched along the façade as a picture taken c. 1955 shows.

Location: High Street, Rochester, Kent / Picture taken on: 26/06/2011

Capons, Rochester

Walking towards Rochester High Street from the train station, one cannot miss the sign below for Capons the butchers. A. E. Capon & Son has been selling meat and award-winning sausages in Charles Dickens's hometown since 1944.

C A P O N S

The Butchers For Quality Meat

Update: originally another building stood next to Capons. As its upper storeys were slightly set back from its neighbour's façade, it left enough space on the side wall for Capon to advertise his trade as pictures taken in the mid-1950s show (here and here. Note that back then the signs were different). This building was demolished when the road was widened.

Location: High Street, Rochester, Kent / Picture taken on: 26/06/2011