Comments on: The Signs Of Old London https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/08/06/the-signs-of-old-london-iii/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Wed, 06 Aug 2025 18:23:42 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Rowland Wateridge https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/08/06/the-signs-of-old-london-iii/#comment-1769782 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 18:23:42 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=204039#comment-1769782 A fascinating topic. There’s nowhere quite like the City where I worked from 1960, successively in Fenchurch Street, Creechurch Lane, Dowgate Hill (Tallow Chandlers’ Hall) and Cannon Street. Unless I’m mistaken, Atlas holding the globe in Cheapside was the City Office of the former Atlas Insurance Company (not sure whether it was also the Company’s Head Office). Insurance companies were another source of evocative signs: the golden Phoenix in King William Street facing down towards London Bridge (is it still there?), and doubtless others. In recent years due to amalgamations, or other reasons, nearly all of the insurance companies I remember from 65 years ago have disappeared. I think the Inns of Court and City churches will also richly reward similar searching. Thank you for this nostalgic experience!

]]> By: Mark B https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/08/06/the-signs-of-old-london-iii/#comment-1769711 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:58:08 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=204039#comment-1769711 Lovely stuff,
I do love a London Sign.
Great photos as usual and another top class entry to your wonderful blog.
I am still waiting for…..
“The Boot Scrapers Of Old London.”
On to think about.

Thank you.

Mark

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/08/06/the-signs-of-old-london-iii/#comment-1769701 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:32:22 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=204039#comment-1769701 As soon as I saw the sign for “Bull and Mouth”, I felt a strong resonance for a favorite sign here in the US — the mad/grinning face that has become the logo for Coney Island. This full-frontal
visage does more than invite us — he is downright DARING us to come and enjoy the thrills and spills of the old amusement park. His eternal optimism, the glaring manic smile showing a zillion teeth, and the unblinking eye contact — No wonder these features have such a storied
history in signage!? — both in your neck of the woods, and mine.

I can only imagine the old streets of Londontown, replete with fascinating signs. I suspect there was a healthy competition between merchants to have the most chat-worthy sign, leading to
endless great mascots/logos/symbols. Thanks, GA for shining a light.

]]> By: Valerie Cottle https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/08/06/the-signs-of-old-london-iii/#comment-1769492 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 08:48:06 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=204039#comment-1769492 Very intrigued to see – uncaptioned – amongst these images the Three Legs of Man, where I live. Do you know where this stone was to be found? The Three Legs of Man can be differentiated from those of Sicily in that they are armed, whereas those of Sicily are usually shown as naked. The Sicilian symbol also has a head, possibly of Medusa, at the centre. Both are now customarily depicted as running anti-clockwise, but the Manx version has at times in the past appeared as running the other direction.

Thankyou, as always, for the daily treat which the Gentle Author offers!

]]> By: A Pilkington https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/08/06/the-signs-of-old-london-iii/#comment-1769491 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 08:33:55 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=204039#comment-1769491 This is a fascinating insight into these old symbols.

]]> By: Annie S https://spitalfieldslife.com/2025/08/06/the-signs-of-old-london-iii/#comment-1769484 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 08:21:16 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=204039#comment-1769484 Very interesting!
It certainly pays to look up when you’re out and about, we so often miss fascinating things from days gone by.

]]>