3 Sydenham Road - original shop signage on show

[FromCtoShiningC]

Hi all.

Walking past 3 Sydenham Road earlier (the shop right next to the Station Approach)…

People were removing the most recent shop front signage above the shop and (presumably) about to put up a new one.

Underneath was the original wooden sign with the following:

3 Emrys Thomas

The sign looked amazing and I'd guess was early to mid 20thC rather than earlier than 1900. (there is another strand in this forum from 2008 talking about the Emrys Thomas drapers shop from the 1890s to mid 20th I believe).

Looks like the shop owners will put up a new sign soon, so those of you who are fans of very old shop signs (which are beautiful and very appealing)….make sure you have a look.

If I work out how to post some pictures I can share those I took earlier.

Warm regards all.

[leenewham]

I'd love to see this.

I wish shops in Sydenham would consider how their shops looked and take advantage of the high street changes. It's so disappointing.

And then if they have a new or a nice sign, they need to keep it clean (Yes, I mean you Amo!)

[marymck]

I'd love to see the pictures please. Apparently it's gone now.

[FromCtoShiningC]

yes - real shame. The sign had gone when I walked past there around 7am this morning. I dare say this has been removed completely for the new sign above the shop.

I agree that these wooden signs (with painted lettering) are very stylish and if one visits certain areas (Chelsea or Kensington or even Southwold/Bath/York being examples) this type of thing is positively encouraged.

Let's wait for the new sign - I'm sure it will be pleasant in its own right (although I am a fan of historic signage and architecture in general and so would always prefer something more reminisant of the days of Queen Victoria or Edward Vii).

If I can work out how to post two pictures I have I will certainly share. The font on the old sign I saw briefly yesterday looks certainly 1st half of the 20th C (and possibly late Edwardian although I would say later)

[leenewham]

We are getting a shop sign written in Streatham. It's much less than getting a new back lit box sign.

Glass signs are about the same price as new back lit illuminated boxes.

Trouble is, many shops don't know what things cost, or don't care how they look, have strange ideas, don't care about the streets they inhabit, don't know what planning rules are, or ignore them.

[FromCtoShiningC]

Hi - forgive me if this doesn't show the pictures.....







if it doesn't, please follow these links:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/110160679@N08/11107972334/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/110160679@ ... otostream/

[marymck]

Oh C - it's beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing your link. I will pass the link on to Steve Grindlay. He tried to see the signage following your initial post, but sadly by the time he got there it was too late. Thank you so much for preserving the images of a little bit of (now) lost Sydenham history.

[leenewham]

It's lovely isn't it?

We are doing a shop sign in Streatham that is sign written. It's not expensive. Far less than the sign they are putting up in this signs place. Another shop we were working with uncovered an old sign and we persuaded them to keep it (In New Cross) with a new sign over the top (you can see the sold sign through it). We are doing something similar again in Ruislip Manor in North London. It's nice having these layers of history. They help to build a sense of place.

There are still many sign writers coming working today. And they love what they do. It's such a shame we don't' have a strong local traders association to try to push better design for shop signage (among other things).

Change happens best in high streets like ours when it comes from traders. Trying to make things happen in Sydenham is like trying to bail out the titanic with a tea spoon. I personally don't see much change happening in Sydenham Road. There has to be will from the traders and a joining of forces of all groups and a meeting of wills. There aren't many empty shops, which limits change and opportunity for new shops to come in. Rents are high for the area, which stops creative new businesses from coming in. To be realistic, how Sydenham Road is, is how Sydenham road will be for quite some time. I hope I'm wrong, but it hasn't really changed in the 6 years i've been here aside from new paving, which is now dirty and a small market (which is great) and the pop up shops (which was a great initiative, the best being the Butcher in Forest Hill). Lower Sydenham has perfectly good paving, but it's been left and weeds have grown everywhere (I wonder how many people notice this). But in general, the shops are essentially the same.

Change will take a very, very, very, very, long time. If it happens at all.

[FromCtoShiningC]

Thanks for the last 2 comments - I am so glad I walked past there at the right time to take those snaps.

I'd love to see more of Sydenham's history kept.

I nearly cry when I see perfectly useable and beautiful original doors and windows ripped out of houses. There have been MANY recently, and I am lost for words.

Little by little, our heritage is being lost...and, as importantly, I think these old signs/doors/windows/street lights.... are aesthetically SO appealing. When did anyone ever stop and gaze in awe at a new PVC window or metal shutter!

I sound like a grumpy old man

[leenewham]

No, you sound like someone who genuinely cares about the are in which they live.

It's a shame many shop owners aren't the same. But many of our local shop owners don't actually live locally.

[marymck]

I know just how you feel C - I got all choked up when I saw Wooster & Stock had ripped out the old beautiful doors and replaced them with plate glass ... this despite being told by Planning & Conservation Officers they couldn't do that and had to keep them. Two world wars those doors survived! But not a 21st century estate agent!

[FromCtoShiningC]

In the last 2 months I've seen countless Victorian and Edwardian windows and doors being removed in favour of plastic ones....

Of course, every home owner has the right to have their own style of door or window.....but it's a terrible shame that real history is being lost.

The one that really shocked me was a house in Venner Road where beautiful 'birds' painted/stained glass windows were ripped out in favour of PVC ones. It's like pebbledashing Buckingham Palace or sticking a satellite dish on 10 Downing Street...... (in my opinion - others may disagree)....

I would favour the area more areas in SE26 being conservation areas....it's a shame that much of the area is straddled by Bromley AND Lewisham.... and so twice the effort the get that done.