Comments on: Philip Cunningham’s Dead Signs

By: Ann Marie

Ann Marie — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 21:09:13 +0000

I love these photos. So poignant and haunting. So glad you recorded this slice of London history.

By: Phil Cunningham

Phil Cunningham — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:30:34 +0000

Hi Linda. Happy New Year! The text on “Globe Garage” was ‘Taxi for Hire’. There was an old fashion Taxi garaged at the end of Mile End Place next to the dairy. The Taxi driver was a lovely old man, he came down the street once but must be gone now. The cows in the dairy had zero grazing and for exercise they were walked round the block!

By: Joy Milligan

Joy Milligan — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 14:23:42 +0000

Wonderful images – Thankyou

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 14:21:36 +0000

I keep trying to read the even older writing underneath the “Globe Garage” printing. Early 19th century? Lovely font.

Can anyone read it?
So many eras of history on one sign.

By: paul loften

paul loften — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 13:24:53 +0000

The Education Committee orders me to take care when crossing the road. Now that is a sign to command respect! It brings back the memory of the training we had at infant school. Look left, left, right, and then if all clear quick march. We need more of these signs.

By: Eric Forward

Eric Forward — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 12:27:25 +0000

Another set of incredible photographs. Thought I recognised St. Dunstan’s Wharf – used to cycle past it on the way to the gym at Canary Wharf. Checked online and indeed it was the one. Amazing, as externally it hasn’t changed at all. Looks like it is also for sale for a smidge over £2m if you want it!

By: Christine Thomas

Christine Thomas — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 11:09:07 +0000

Brilliant choice of pics – similar sites not unknown in the early 1980s when I arrived in East End to look after actress friend’s flat for 3 weeks to stop it being squatted whilst she was on tour. She never came back and I somehow for some reason I can’t remember exactly why other than being absolutely bedazzled living in the midst of so many time and social zones slap bang next to the City – and of course so cheap to rent and within walking distance home from West End after hours. Couldn’t get a taxi for love nor money – not out of fearsome reputation East End where most taxi drivers sounded like they came from, but because they knew they wouldn’t get a fare back into town. And as for the last bus – one had to start preparing to get off opposite ‘Woolies’ (now MacDonalds)already at Liverpool St Station, as it took barely 3 minutes for the bus to whizz down the literally soulless Bethnal Green Road once shops had shut at 5pm. So unlike today where it
same preparatory procedure Liverpool St even more necessary to be able to make one’s way through packed jam packed throngs visiting, frolicking and living in what has become a Mecca to all sorts -what estate agents like to call a vibrant area, a kind of Mecca to global all sorts. My days!

By: Pauline Taylor

Pauline Taylor — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 10:25:15 +0000

Thank you Philip Cunningham, great photography !!

By: Wendy Lowe

Wendy Lowe — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 09:40:09 +0000

Such interesting photos. I’m off now to read about the three suns event of 1400s.

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 08:47:03 +0000

These signs are very evocative of a bygone era, and it is great that Phil managed to record them all.

I wonder how long it will be before all the social distancing instructions which are everywhere at the moment become ‘dead’ signs?
Perhaps it would be a good idea to record as many of them as possible so that future generations can look back and wonder at all the restrictions we have had to obey in these challenging times.

Let’s hope it isn’t too long before they can be ‘killed’ off….