After the Blitz: The Hand-Painted Signs of London Lost
Better Letters -
On 28 February 1948, a two-page photographic spread in the London Illustrated News profiled a little-known piece of British sign painting history. The images show hand-painted signs marking the locations of businesses and organisations that had their premises destroyed during the London blitz (1940–41), in addition to pieces of temporary stencilled directional signage.
The full spread in the London Illustrated News, 28 February 1948.
Here I have reproduced the feature in digital form, which allows these novel signs to be seen in a bit more detail.
Vanished London
The changed face of the great city where today signboards indicate the sites of once-familiar buildings
Hundreds of people whose daily work takes them to the City of London, have become so familiar with the bombed spaces and gutted buildings that they sometimes forget the vanished landmarks that were once part of the great city. Today the 'square mile' has a new face, and tall signboards remind Londoners of their bygone haunts.
The City's blitz record, published in 1944, states that buildings covering about 164 acres were destroyed; 417 high-explosive bombs of varying sizes were dropped, together with thirteen parachute mines, 2,498 oil bombs and many thousands of incendiaries. Sixteen Wren churches were destroyed, and of the thirty-four Company Halls standing in 1939 only three were undamaged.
Visitors passing through the City on a bus may notice some bomb damage, but most of the scars are hidden and can only be seen from the side streets, through the lanes and alleys and courts. Many an undamaged facade reveals little of the ruin that lies behind it. But London has tidied up the damage and with her traditional courage with which she overcomes disaster, is now planning the new City which will arise from the ashes of the old.
Old London looks towards the future: the site of the eighteenth-century Stone's Chop House (to be rebuilt). Old London looks towards the future: the site of the eighteenth-century Stone's Chop House (to be rebuilt).A familiar sight in the bombed city: a signboard reminding Londonders that the "White Swan" once stood upon this site.A familiar sight in the bombed city: a signboard reminding Londonders that the "White Swan" once stood upon this site.The "Local's" legacy to post-war London: empty boxes and a signboard on the site of the "Czar's Head".The "Local's" legacy to post-war London: empty boxes and a signboard on the site of the "Czar's Head"."Time, gentlemen, please!" A "No Entry" road sign lends emphasis to the "dry" condition of the "George IV"."Time, gentlemen, please!" A "No Entry" road sign lends emphasis to the "dry" condition of the "George IV".Resembling the excavated foundations of a long-dead city: an unexpected sight in the heart of the capital of the British Commonwealth where blitzed offices await rebuilding.Resembling the excavated foundations of a long-dead city: an unexpected sight in the heart of the capital of the British Commonwealth where blitzed offices await rebuilding."The site is marked; the world has not forgot": a hoarding on the site of the international headquarters of the Salvation Army; now transferred to temporary premises."The site is marked; the world has not forgot": a hoarding on the site of the international headquarters of the Salvation Army; now transferred to temporary premises.Where life goes on amid the ruins: a colony of prefabricated houses covering a desolate space amidst war-scarred buildings in the heart of London.Where life goes on amid the ruins: a colony of prefabricated houses covering a desolate space amidst war-scarred buildings in the heart of London.Part of the 164 acres of buildings destroyed in the blitz on London: the foundations of buildings and a temporary footpath in the commercial quarter.Part of the 164 acres of buildings destroyed in the blitz on London: the foundations of buildings and a temporary footpath in the commercial quarter.A rural scene in which the shadowy background of bombed buildings shows that it is placed in the centre of the city.A rural scene in which the shadowy background of bombed buildings shows that it is placed in the centre of the city.Where business men once played dominoes and now an untidy corner bearing the remains of an air-raid shelter.Where business men once played dominoes and now an untidy corner bearing the remains of an air-raid shelter.A grim vista of bombed historic churches and ruined buildings viewed from London Wall, a street which follows the course of the old Roman wall.A grim vista of bombed historic churches and ruined buildings viewed from London Wall, a street which follows the course of the old Roman wall.
Thank you to Leisa Clements for alerting me to this poignant set of photographs. 'Vanished London: The Changed Face of the Great City Where To-Day Signboards Indicate the Sites of Once-Familiar Buildings' appeared in the London Illustrated News, 28 February 1948, pp. 236-237.