Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Ghost signs are all around us in our towns and cities, tucked away down alleyways, above us amongst chimney pots, or among the signage of our modern high streets. Once on the lookout for ghost signs, the curious urban explorer will discover that they are frequently hidden in plain sight.
But what is a ghost sign? While the name suggests something of the paranormal, ghost signs are pieces of signage preserved on buildings that have long since changed their identity.
These may be old advertisements or signage for businesses that once occupied a building. Ghost signs are a snapshot in time, a historical artefact of social history, and a nostalgic window into the past.
This trail has been produced by @greatyarmouthboroughcounci7965 and the Tide and Time Museum to show examples of some of the many ghost signs across Great Yarmouth, from the historical town centre preserved within the Great Yarmouth Heritage Action Zone to the bustling quayside and the vibrant seafront. The trail invites you to step back in time and re-imagine the Great Yarmouth streets of days gone by.
Alex Day, Youth Engagement Officer for @NorfolkMuseumsService, gives us a tour.
Chapters:
What are ghost signs?: 00:00
The Slipper Baths: 00:57
Uncovering Yarmouth's Ghost Signs: 01:34
Arnold's Department Store: 02:12
Great Yarmouth General Hospital: 03:12
'Singers': 04:00
The Municipal School of Art: 04:52
The real spooky story: 06:11
Ghost Signs: Spooky Remains of a Hidden Past ➡️ bit.ly/GhostSignsTour
Download the Uncovering Yarmouth: Ghost Signs (PDF) booklet for examples of the many signs across Great Yarmouth and their history ➡️ great-yarmouth.gov.uk/article/8833/Uncovering-Yarmouth-Ghost-signs
Read more about our Great Yarmouth High Street Heritage Action Zone ➡️ historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/heritage-action-zones/great-yarmouth
Ghost signs are all around us in our towns and cities, tucked away down alleyways, above us amongst chimney pots, or among the signage of our modern high streets. Once on the lookout for ghost signs, the curious urban explorer will discover that they are frequently hidden in plain sight.
But what is a ghost sign? While the name suggests something of the paranormal, ghost signs are pieces of signage preserved on buildings that have long since changed their identity.
These may be old advertisements or signage for businesses that once occupied a building. Ghost signs are a snapshot in time, a historical artefact of social history, and a nostalgic window into the past.
This trail has been produced by @greatyarmouthboroughcounci7965 and the Tide and Time Museum to show examples of some of the many ghost signs across Great Yarmouth, from the historical town centre preserved within the Great Yarmouth Heritage Action Zone to the bustling quayside and the vibrant seafront. The trail invites you to step back in time and re-imagine the Great Yarmouth streets of days gone by.
Alex Day, Youth Engagement Officer for @NorfolkMuseumsService, gives us a tour.
Chapters:
What are ghost signs?: 00:00
The Slipper Baths: 00:57
Uncovering Yarmouth's Ghost Signs: 01:34
Arnold's Department Store: 02:12
Great Yarmouth General Hospital: 03:12
'Singers': 04:00
The Municipal School of Art: 04:52
The real spooky story: 06:11
Ghost Signs: Spooky Remains of a Hidden Past ➡️ bit.ly/GhostSignsTour
Download the Uncovering Yarmouth: Ghost Signs (PDF) booklet for examples of the many signs across Great Yarmouth and their history ➡️ great-yarmouth.gov.uk/article/8833/Uncovering-Yarmouth-Ghost-signs
Read more about our Great Yarmouth High Street Heritage Action Zone ➡️ historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/heritage-action-zones/great-yarmouth
