Category: Ghostsigns - Reading the Signs

Search the site

Cork Ghostsigns

16/8/2015

Wikipedia defines a ‘ghostsign’ as an old hand-painted advertising sign that has been preserved on a building for an extended period of time. The sign may be kept for its nostalgic appeal, or simply indifference by the owner.

Last week I saw some tweets about ghostsigns in Cork and elsewhere so it prompted me to create a tab for ghostgigns on the blog and go back through all old blog posts to add the tag where appropriate – here.

I have extended my tag definition to include old signs of plaster and other material on buildings which no longer have the use or ownership advertised.

This prompted me to upload some ghostsigns from Cork that I have not shown previously.

Bring Back the Smells

13/8/2015

Do we now live an aroma-less life? Is your nose and sense of smell challenged as much as before.

Maybe one first gets used to, and then becomes immune to smells after experiencing them so many times. Is the sensation of experiencing a smell for the very first time a joy of youth that is underappreciated?

I do think that this vacuum-packed age of ours, a time when we cannot pass a day without encountering so many controlling air-fresheners, is overly dumbing down and affecting our relationship with reality, and the use of our noses.

I cannot remember this building on Oliver Plunkett Street being other than a bookie’s shop, William Hill being the last that I recall. The web educates that Delicacies Ltd. did trade from Number 55 as butchers in 1940,and 1945 , and also were at Castle Street in 1945 – but were not listed as victuallers in 1930.

I did smile at this old ghostsign. Taking the photograph earlier this week, I did not see one other person taking any notice of it.

The name Delicacies Ltd. did intrigue me somewhat and did get me thinking as to what may have been on display. In turn, it aroused my sense memories which brought me back to the days of me ‘borrowing’ empty large ‘Bulmers’ bottles from the yard of the local hotel and bringing them to Henchy’s at St. Luke’s Cross to claim my 6p refund.

Henchy’s was then a shop on one side, bar with snug on the other. The smell came from the timber floors, the open tea boxes, the shelves full, and the many other open bags of so many things then unknown to me – a combination of many sources. I cannot remember the exact smell but the recollection is of it being strong. It was its own particular smell.

Thinking back, it was a pleasant smell but possibly a tad overbearing for my young and untrained nose.

There were very many challenges to that untrained nose, pleasing and otherwise.

Do you remember the Thompson’s bread van and the lovely smell that escaped when the breadman opened the door? If so, you might also remember the smell that sometimes greeted you at the door in the morning when the birds had managed to peck through the top of the milk bottle – or maybe the same bottle of non-homogenised milk only a few days old. Or maybe the smell from the fruit and vegetable van, which had no issue with selling partly blackened bananas and soft fruit which all combined to the smell set free when the door was opened.

The smell from Henchy’s was similar to Maddens on Bridge Street and a few others on Princes Street.

Trips to town with my each of my grandfathers generally involved a trip to one of the many tobacconists where the preferred mix of tobacco was blended there and then in the shop with the aroma from the containers providing a sweet and pleasant sensation.

Today, I discovered that the correct name is the Kiln River but growing up the river that discharged at Carroll’s Quay and Camden Quay junction was known as either the Smelly River or the Bloody River – a testament to the slaughterhouses that fed into it. This was definitely one of the more memorable unpleasant smells to hit that nose that did not stay untrained for long.

I remember holding my breath walking through the English Market, particularly the fish section. Such action has not been required for quite some time.

Among my recollections of the local shop are the smells of the cooked ham and the fresh vegetables. Refrigeration, air conditioning and packaging mean that these smells no longer greet me at a local shop.

Last weekend, we returned from our holidays with many bunches of carrots and onions just pulled from the sandy soil of the Maharees. It is not stretching matters to say that the journey home was filled with a perfume – days later I am longing for a real true and fresh smell and am reminded that not all progress is good.

If there is a campaign to reinstate smells, I will be signing up.

Delicacies Ltd., 55 Oliver Plunkett St

Oliver Plunkett Street

Possibly 70 year old timber

Follow Your Nose

John Henchy & Sons - providing smells since 1884

A Word or Two.....?

27/7/2015

I always understood that ‘greengrocer’ was one word, not two.

It appears that Paidí Ó Sé’s shop in Ventry and this old shop on Shandon Street, Cork had a different opinion preferring ‘green grocer’ – or maybe they were environmentally friendly before it became popular……

“greengrocer noun a person or shop that sells fruit and vegetables. greengrocery noun the produce sold by a greengrocer.

grocer noun 1 someone whose job is selling food and general household goods. 2 a grocer's shop.”

Chambers Dictionary

Swan & Cygnet

9/7/2015

Earlier, I spotted on Photos of Cork, an old photograph of the Swan & Cygnet at the start of Patrick’s Street.

It reminded me of the old signage for the bar which still hangs in Cork – a bit distant from the original location.

Seeds & Manure

26/2/2015

I am close to finishing Peig (as Béarla). Leaving the coffee shop this morning, I got talking to CC about it being a record of social history – of a time past.

Then I saw a picture on the front of The Irish Examiner of a family in 1991 kneeling to say the rosary at home. The image was by Richard Fitzgerald and features in a spread in US Black & White Photography magazine. It reminded of a discussion with a, now retired, friend who said that when he married, he and his wife knelt to recite the rosary before entering the matrimonial bed – another prod towards a history of times past.

Then when tidying up my record of photographs, I remembered this recently taken in Cloyne. Similar to the Horse Repository, I really like the old plaster moulded signs as they survive well beyond the trade or activity ceases – more record of social history.

I cannot imagine any retail company surviving now specialising in seeds and manure but maybe it is just not my market……

Pumps

25/2/2015

A while back, Ian’s blog reminded me of old petrol pumps, Sine then, I have recorded the few that I have come across – in varying stages of neglect. And one unusual installation at Begley’s Forge.

MeticulousMick’s update today prompted a picture gallery.

Operator. Number Please.

25/1/2015

Last week, I was in a house in Cork and was very pleasantly surprised to come across this little sign on the back of the hot press door.

It brought a number of thoughts.

That there was a time when three digits were sufficient to uniquely identify all the telephones in Cork – so no more than 999 telephone lines, and that property on Merchant’s Quay was one.

That the plumber must have been one of the first to leave his number in the hot press as a marketing reminder for when there might be a problem.

That Merchants Quay as in the photograph hanging in Dan Lowry’s was a much nicer streetscape then rather than now.

Then

Now

Repository

20/1/2015

Cecil Street, Limerick

This evening, I had to look up the dictionary for ‘repository’.

Earlier today, in Limerick, I came across the term ‘Horse Repository’ for the first time. A lovely old sign. A delight to see still existing.

Long may it survive.

repository noun (repositories) 1 a place or container where things may be stored. 2 a a place where things are stored for exhibition; b a museum. 3 a warehouse. 4 someone or something thought of as a store of information, knowledge, etc. 5 a trusted person to whom one can confide secrets. 6 a tomb; a place of burial.
ETYMOLOGY: 15c: from Latin repositorium, from reponere, repositum to replace, to store up.

Chambers Dictionary

Repairers To Whom?

19/1/2015

Yesterday, I spotted this on the Grand Parade – on the façade of the building occupied by La Galerie.

It looks like the main body of an old advert or crest had been removed. They left just enough to intrigue the likes of me and have us looking at old photographs as to what might have been there.

Or maybe someone knows.

Lovely Hopper

11/1/2015

Maylor Street, Cork

Recently I spotted this downpipe hopper on Brown Thomas’ building on Maylor – yet another throwback to the former Cash & Co or Cash’s.

What the weekend was all about....

24/3/2014

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I was in Castlelyons last weekend.

For the past few months, I have been keeping an eye out for old ads. I was able to add to my collection.

Dangers of Rebranding - Ch. 5 - Brown Thomas

21/3/2014

Maylor St

That small part of me that might be considered romantic hopes that the plaque was left as a reminder of the history of the city and the very many who lived with and purchased in Cash’s.

That part with a concern for building conservation has a slight suspicion that its removal may have damaged the stonework and so it was retained for pragmatic reasons.

The cynical part, a not insubstantial part, is convinced that someone made a mistake……

History Repeats

10/2/2014

CASTLETOWNROCHE

In the early 1900s the village was a thriving self-sufficient community, there were up to a dozen grocery shops with a further ten adjoined pubs. During this time there was an amazing variety of trades in the village including butchers, bakers, blacksmiths, harness makers, nailers, carpenters, painters, basket makers, tailors and shoemakers. Prior to the advent of the motor car much of the entertainment came to town – visiting circus’, travelling show/cinemas, play companies and dance bands. The village also had its own Fife and Drum band, which was formed in 1909.

Castletownroche

This morning I was out and about around Old Blackrock Road, Victoria Avenue and Boreenmanna Road. I noted a few buildings that are now residences but in the past were shop units of some sort or other.

You will see many of their type in almost every village, town, suburb and city.

When I drove through Castletownroche a few weeks ago, it was a sleepy little town. It definitely did not give off the scent of a thriving commercial hub.

Does a similar fate await Cork city centre? Not just the cars as may have done for Castletownroche but parking; suburban shopping centres; human desire to have all things in one place; internet shopping.

If you like the convenience of a local shop, support it.

Shandon St

Ballinacurra, Co. Cork

Evergreen St

Cobh, Co. Cork

Rebranding Dangers - Ch 3

18/1/2014

Marlboro St., Cork

Maybe it is a factor of my age or just my disposition but I am a firm believer that if a product has a brand image, then stick with it – many will take comfort from how long we have lived with it.

Rebranding may be good for the marketing and printing people but I would be in the ‘Wonder Why’ grouping

If rebranding does occur, I would have thought it fundamental to remove all the old branding to remove confusion – and not just cover over with something that may be uncovered in the future.

Odlums

2/1/2014

I am probably in a minority to consider it artwork or possibly sculpture.

Maybe it is my liking of old signs.

Marina Road (or Marina Walk in some maps) is not a street that one would travel down very often so it was a pleasant surprise to spot the gate recently.