Old Woolhampton Bakery.
Woolhampton, for some reason, seems to have more than its fair share of Ghost Signs. Actually, for a small village, it has more than its fair share of a lot of things. Listed buildings, Ghost Signs, pubs (apparently there were 5 at one point!). And bakers.
This Ghost Sign reads: The Old Woolhampton Bakery, Est 1875, for Hovis. Whilst taking this photograph, the owner came out, wondering why his dog was barking! It gave us a chance for a brief chat.
He confirmed that, whilst he did not actively maintain the sign, he does at least keep the ivy off it. He was not sure if this was an actual bakery – rather it may just have been a shop. There is another building in Woolhampton called “The Old Bakery”. However, this may have been a competitor. This building is now called “Bakewell House”.
Whilst there is a reasonable amount of history about the village available on the web, little or no mention is made of bakers. As well as the Old Woolhampton Bakery ghost sign, further down the road is another one for H S Warner – Baker and Confectioner. Whether there is any connection isn’t clear.
You may recall in a previous blog the ghost sign for the old Rose and Crown in Woolhampton.
For more about Ghost Signs: www.ghostsigns.co.uk.
Photograph Details
- Taken: 3 Apr 2017
- Camera: Canon 5D MkIII
- Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L II USM
- Focal Length 35mm
- F/5
- 1/30 Sec
- ISO 100