Ghost Signs

Ghost Signs - Old signage that can still be seen on a building long after the company being advertised has since gone. They were all in Hitchin:

Freeman Hardy  WIllis - Was a major chain of footwear retailers established in 1875. At their height, they had a store in nearly every town in the UK. Went out of business in 1996. 

London House - History unknown

Printing Office - Formerly the site of the Paternoster and Hale Printing Office, , originally Paternoster’s Bookshop and Stationers. They amalgamated with Hale in Bucklersbury and became known as Paternoster and Hale and then became a printers. (It printed the Hitchin Advertisernewspaper.) The raised lettering ‘Printing Office’ can still easily be seen on the top third of the building.

HJS/HYS - Not sure how to read this, but through my highly honed deductive skills, I have determined that it dates to 1868.

Amazing what you see when you raise your eyes above street level.

15km row yesterday and a 56km bike ride today. My arse is in tatters.

Saw Megan on Skype today. She is eve more gorgeous than in the photos and Luke and Cary seem to be taking to parenthood like ducks to water.