Council and private signs from pre-Worboys era

[DavidNW9]

A different one for Middlesex in Twickenham

[DavidNW9]

I think this block in Holloway is about 1930s and probably the sign. I know I mucked it up but there were cars coming and had to rush it.



I may return one day and try again.

[DavidNW9]

Obviously a private sign, although local variations could be ordered, so this may have been a different version of the separate speed limit and children signs, the private road on top wrecks the whole possibility. This is in Wraysbury

[DavidNW9]

Here's a classic no parking on verges from Essex CC issued shortly after 1952 (it says so), meaning presumably both councils can issue grass verge and similar parking prohibitions in their own styles, and they are the ones making the by-laws which vary from council to council so require specific local signs as the fines and penalties will vary.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer/15779702416

I have still seen a couple of national looking ones, presumably the roads are administered by different groups as they are today. I'm guessing it's probably A road related for the difference, although I thought Wennington Road may be one but not certain.

[DavidNW9]

Probably early Victorian (Barnet had the current spelling when the railways arrived), this is one of the first conventional metal cast signs after being carved on the stone directly. In fact had it been on a wall or a post I'd say it was barely different from the official directions till 1964, the fonts were not standardised till the 30s and many before then had local variations.



High Street, London Colney

[DavidNW9]

Hampstead, looks like pressed metal as one letter is dented, probably once black on white but they have been painted green like the railings and the road is double yellows now so no need for an extra no parking sign.



There are three of these, two behind the railings on a pole and one covered in moss, and needed a tripod to get which I didn't have with me.

[chris486]

A6 CRESCENT



WP_20141202_006 by EthelRedThePetrolHead, on Flickr

Very difficult to photograph from a bicycle but this is a street sign with a road sign font.

There are some more signs with this font around Pendleton.

[DavidNW9]

What does it say, pedestrians? I've never seen anything written in local designs besides no through roads, that's another option you've found there.

A rare footpath sign made like a road direction in Raynes Park

[rileyrob]

Spotted this in Queensferry recently. Not quite sure where it fits!

[DavidNW9]

Spotted this in Queensferry recently. Not quite sure where it fits!

That's incredibly rare and official pre-Worboys, the commoner ones had cyclists and service road (we have new ones near me but no old ones, only one near Birmingham from memory), I doubt there's more than a couple of those left in the country altogether.

[DavidNW9]

A matching pair here, first the standard under road name issue



and its mate opposite on its own sign. I can't be 100% certain they are identical due to the condition, but this one may be cast and the other pressed, it's hard to tell and I didn't check at the time.



I was told in no uncertain terms these plates to local features with no arrows are council issues only so this would presumably follow that format but still pretty nostalgic.

[DavidNW9]

Had these been place names rather than housing it would have counted as a proper direction sign, but the design is identical regardless, on Scots Hill Croxley Green

[DavidNW9]

This is a pretty old one in Willesden, on a proper road



and a typical council issued no cycling

[Berk]

Does anyone know the names of the fonts, in the examples posted by DavidNW9?? I'm curious, because some authorities appear(ed) to use them for post-Worboys signs (usually informational ones, as well as street names); I'm thinking of Leicestershire, and Oxfordshire mainly (but there could've been others).

It may have been more widespread before the turn of the millennium, I don't think so many are made up now. Still quite a few around Leicester, though...

[DavidNW9]

The PW font didn't have an official name but usually called MoT as they used it. And while we're on the subject this is one of the best examples you can find, complete with cats eyes, but simply a park entrance in Garston which has one each side.

r

[DavidNW9]

Are these the oldest examples of road humps we know? On a private road in Hook Heath.





The font is pre-1957 and probably a lot older than that.

[DavidNW9]

It was hard to tell the construction of this, as it had recently been painted. It's flat, and would either have stuck on or painted letters on metal. It may be as old as 20 Steele Road, which would be quite some time ago, but the 2 is Transport style and the rivets are new so either replacements or a dodgy remake, in W3 Acton.

[chris486]

Here ya go - spotted in Thurso just now - I thought of you.



Private parking

[DavidNW9]

Very nice Chris, it reminded me of this recent addition originally posted in PW or not, but if not would then go here.

[Nicholas]

Finally got around to downloading this off my camera, but I spotted these in the LT depot at Acton last month. Sorry about the poor photo, but it was the best I could do.