How do you like your Ghost Signs?

A bright, very cold and windy morning. Chuffed to hear that my 'Blip Owls' entry for Tiny Tuesday has received an 'honourable mention'.

I think Ghost Signs are a strong visual reminder of our social history. They  were originally painted with oil-based house paints. The paint that has survived the test of time normally contains lead, which has kept it strongly adhered to the masonry surface. Ghost signs were often preserved through repainting the entire sign since the colours often faded over time.

There has been some debate about how we should manage our surviving signs in Cambridge. I blipped our best example that has not been touched the other week. These two photographed this morning have been renovated relatively recently. Some have argued the Bulls Dairy sign has been over restored so that it is no longer a ghost sign whereas the Tolly sign at the Alma Pub appears to have been just thoroughly cleaned. Personally, I think good restoration is important. We shouldn't just leave them to decay and disappear for ever.