Modern effigy

Slightly creepy figure of a girl, acting as a signpost for the nearby school. The figure is a few years old now, leaning a bit and somewhat reminiscent of a medieval effigy. The staring eyes and dirty legs don't help - this one will haunt me in my sleep.

Eye eye

Most signs can be improved by a pair of googly eyes, I think. 

Slip into French & Sons

There is something comforting about French's shoe shop. This wonderful sign is the hallmark of quality in the smart little parade of shops in Bedford Place, Southampton. Rather like St Paul's in London, as long as French & Sons is still standing, everything will be alright.

French & Sons have been making shoes since 1794 and the current store is run by an 8^th generation French. They moved into their fine Bedford Place premises in 1890 and this shop is still the first port of call for solid school shoes and slippers for maiden aunts.

I remember being dragged here for sensible school shoes when I’d much rather have been shopping at Dolcis (RIP). The shoes I came out with were inevitably plain, brown and dull. Nowadays, however, I confess to thinking “Ooh, they look comfy” when I walk past their window – surely a sign of age.

Check them out www.wjfrenchandson.co.uk.

Steam bakery

The perils of being a small blogger on a busy road - this was the only angle I could get on this sign, but there's a pleasing reflection of a crane as a bonus. This is, as the sign says, the Queensland Steam Bakery in St Mary's, Southampton. It's been trading for 120 years and the company is still going - now called Marybake.

Floral police

Good bit of street art/graffiti in Southampton. 

Common people too

Continuing the Common people theme, here's a sign spotted by my lovely cousin, which he's dubbed "social engineering in Southampton". All aboard?

The Common people

This sign is on the Avenue in Southampton, a city with some glorious parks right in its centre, and the fantastic Southampton Common just to the north. It was declared common land in the 13^th century when the borough bought the land and allowed neighbours to use it for fuel, clay and foraging for food. It was also used for grazing, and the Cowherds Inn today is a reminder of the cowherd who was once paid to look after the cattle on the common. With trees, grass, ponds and play areas, the ancient green space became a public park in 1844.

My primary school was on the edge of the common, with playground boundaries marked by oak, ash and hawthorns, and sports day on a strip of common land grass. This idyllic playtime came to an abrupt end in the 1970s when we were moved to a new building with a tarmac playground surrounded by a wire mesh fence like a cage.

The Common is still in good use by the citizens of Southampton. There’s a wildlife centre, boating lake and paddling pool, and it hosts charity runs, fairs and music festivals.

Sign of the times

Unpleasant sign in Southampton, in a little lane that would pretty if anyone could be bothered. Apologies for the blurry photo - you can understand that I didn't want to hang around too long.

Eagle eye view

The eagle that tops this warehouse at 88-90 French Street, Southampton, gets a great view of the old part of the city. Handy for the docks, the grade II listed building dates to 1903 and was a warehouse for May & Wade, export grocers and shipping contractors, as the sign proclaims. Since 1983 it has been used by the council as the archaeology department’s store, which may explain the good condition of the ghost sign.