Four years ago today we were in the thick of Lockdown Letterheads. I still can't believe that I survived the 24-hour event, which was made possible by a wonderful cast of contributors and volunteers. Thank you all again!

I really should get round to publishing more videos from the day, but you can enjoy a handful of these, and take my quiz, here at bl.ag/lockdown.

PS. I have had final confirmation that Letterheads 50 will be taking place in the recently expanded American Sign Museum next summer (winter for those on the other side of the equator). I'll share more news soon, but for now you can whet your appetite via these reviews of past meets.

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.

Newspaper spread with captioned black and white images showing signs erected on the sites of locations destroyed during the Blitz in London.
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.

Hand-painted sign mounted to two wooden posts. It reads, ""Stones Chop House. On this site was Stones Chop House, founded before 1770 and destroyed by a German bomb in 1941. As soon as posible Stones Chop House will be rebuilt and reopened on this site to continue the fine tradition of first-class English fare."
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 man in black hat and coat walking in front of a wall with a sign protruding above it on two posts. There are destroyes buildings behind the sign, which reads "Site of the 'White Swan'. Charrington's. Anchor Brewery, Mile End, London E1."
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.
A wooden fence bars entry to rubble behind, with a sing protruding above it that reads, "Site of 'The Czars Head', property of Taylor, Walker & Co., The Brewery, Limehouse, E14. Please forward all correspondence to the above address."
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".
A sign post on flat land with buildings behind it. There are two signs, one above the other. The uppermost reads "No Entry. Once Way Street", while the one below says, "Site of the 'George IV'. Charrington's, Anchor Brewery, Mile End, London E1."
"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".
Large expanse of wasteland with bbuildings in the far distance. Large letters are mounted horizontally across a portion of the wasteland, reading "Fore Street Warehouse Co. Ltd."
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.

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View down a London Street with most buildings still standing. To the left is an empty plot of land with a sign mounted in front reading, "Here stood the international headquarters of The Salvation Army. Temporary war-time address: William Booth Memorial Buildings, Denmark Hill."
"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.
A desolate cobbled street with small bungalow homes sitting in front of larger buildings standing in the distance.
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.
A stencilled sign that reads "Addle St, Pedestrians Only" in front of destroyed and damaged buildings to the right and ahead. There are two men coming towards the camera on the walkway adjacent to the sign.
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 sign mounted on two pillars that reach the ground in a clump of vegetation. The sign reads, "T.R. Croger & Sons Ltd. Wholesale Umbrella Manufacturers. Now at 40 Bow Lane, Cheapside, London EC4."
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.
In front of a wall in a poor state of repair, there is an empty plot of land with debris strewn across it. A man is seen from behind looking up at a sign mounted on two posts that reads, "Site of The Swan & Sugar Loaf. Charrington's, Anchor Brewery, Mile End, London E1."
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 low wall with a stencilled sign reading "London Wall" is visible with the view above it consisting of destroyed and badly damaged buildings as far as the eye can see.
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.

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