Ghost Signs - West Hill, Wandsworth

One good, one not so good. The good one first. As soon as I saw this one I remember seeing it from the top of a 37 bus on the way home from school. The intervening 30 years has seen it fade a little, but it's still quite striking

1. West Hill - Nestle Milk 2. The Triangle, West Hill - Unknown Sign
The second sign is more of a tantalising glimpse really. It's just off on a side road by the Triangle and I could only just about make out a word or two at the very top. Not very exciting but it does look as though something might be hidden by the modern advertising sign. A close up view of the words reads something like "Start It **** Your Friend" but I doubt you can make it out on the picture.

Coalhole covers - Putney Bridge Road

A recent stroll down Putney Bridge Road into Wandsworth had lots of interesting features on show, not least of all a large number of coalhole covers. I'm starting to get very fond of these items - I think the styles and decoration start to remind me in some strange way of Greek, Japanese or even Celtic shield bosses and it's always a bonus if you can read who the manufacturers were. As I tend not to creep into peoples front gardens here are a few that a little easier to access...

1. Hayward Brothers - Union Street, Borough, London


2. W. H. Stevens - ?3 Brixton Road SW Rusted a bit and doesn't seem to have the same look of quality about it as the rest of them do.

3. Improved Safety Plate

4. Unknown Maker or Model - Quite an attractive design though

5. Unknown Maker or Model - I was wondering how they managed to lift them to get the coal in. Presumably they had to be released from underneath as they seem to fit pretty flush

6. Unknown Maker or Model - I think some of these could look quite nice framed and up on the wall. Not everyone's cup of tea but not a bad example of industrial chic...