I was thrilled to find this ghost sign from World War two on
a building in China Lane (on the corner of Dale Street), central Manchester.
The fire watcher’s job was to look out for incendiary bombs,
and put the fire out before it spread. The Fire Watchers Order of 1940 required
factories and large businesses to provide their own fire watchers. Hundreds of
incendiary bombs were dropped at a time, and a fire watcher’s equipment
included a bucket of sand and a bucket of water.
There’s a good account of what it was like to be a fire watcher
in Manchester on the BBC
here.
Surprise venue of last week was Irlam station, which turned out to be a delight. The station, built in 1893, was derelict for 25 years, and opened last year after a £2 million revamp. The restorers clearly had a love of signs and railway paraphernalia, creating a venue worth a visit in its own right. There's a great cafe where you get to sit in seats decked out like third class railway carriages, plus evidence of a sense of humour and a loving touch. Just watch your behaviour when you use the toilet. 
