News from back home about a plan to save a Peas Sign.
Ghost signs are silent storytellers, etched into the very brickwork of our communities. These faded, hand-painted advertisements offer a nostalgic glimpse into bygone eras, snapshots of commerce, culture, and everyday life.
One striking example lives on the gable end of the Cocker and Carr building: the “Natural No. 1 Processed Peas” sign. Timeworn but enduring, it speaks volumes about the area’s local identity and trading history. Its survival is thanks to the resilient oil-based paints of the past, whose pigments have weathered decades of wind, rain, and urban change.
Wow. Quite the intro.
And yes indeed, there is an old sign advertising processed peas on the gable end of the building in question:
There used to be an advertising board on that gable end, and when it was taken down, the previous advert – for No.1 Processed Peas was revealed.
I’ve no idea how old it is, but we’re probably looking at some time in the early/middle bit of last century. Sadly, it seems that the manufacturers never considered just how vague their product name would be in an internet search. Frustrating.
And great news: the plan is now to find some means of safeguarding this piece of urban heritage, so that it remains as a reminder of the past – even if it is just an ad for some tinned peas.
Preserving it is more than just restoring a wall, it’s about protecting a piece of living heritage.
I couldn’t agree more. We’re far too quick to destroy and discard these sort of historical pieces. And while stuff like this might be a bit mundane, it’s also completely irreplaceable. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
It’s not doing any harm up there on the wall. It’s not offending anyone or getting in the way of anything, so why not preserve a bit of history?
(And while they’re at it, maybe tidy up the rest of the wall, too?)
(Just a thought.)
There’s actually a heritage building being restored very close to our home here in Cape Town, which I’m delighted about. It certainly beats having 8 soulless townhouses squeezed onto a tiny footprint like they’re doing everywhere else. And once it’s finished, it will be a real icon – alongside a wonderful family home – and will be preserved for generations to come.
My only issue is that saving heritage housing does apparently seem to be a rather noisy endeavour.
If they could do something about that, it would be nice.
