Tim's One Photograph a Day

Povey’s, Newbury – Ghost Sign.

Povey’s Newbury, Cheap Street.

Povey's Newbury: Ghost Sign in Cheap Street / Kings Road (West).

Ghost Sign located on Kings Road (West) for the shop in Cheap Street.

Another piece of history on the walls. Quite often, a Ghost Sign covered a previous one. As can be seen here, the sign for Povey’s Newbury was painted on top of an earlier sign.

It is a shame that part of this sign has recently been covered by an advert for the Indian takeaway, which is just down the road to the left. This Ghost Sign presumably referred to the shop on whose side wall it was painted. Today, it is an RSPCA Charity Shop.

On Google Streetview in 2014, the Indian restaurant banner had not been put up. From here,it is easy to see that Povey’s Newbury sold Pianos, Gramophones and Everything Electrical. There is another word to the right of Povey’s at the top, but even on Streetview this is not readable.

The only word I can read from the sign underneath is “Office”, alongside a picture of a telephone. A search of the internet so far has not revealed any further information about either business. There appears to have been (and still are) a Povey family of business people in Newbury, but they seem to only have a farming connection.

Photograph Details:

  • Taken: 11 Apr 2017
  • Camera: Canon 5D MkIII
  • Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L II USM
  • Focal Length 39mm
  • F/6.3
  • 1/320 Sec
  • ISO 100

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