The writing's (barely) on the wall

For the past 15 years, Sam Roberts has been researching and writing about "ghost signs", which he defines as "fading painted signs" on the fronts and sides of buildings. His site is a mine of information, and now, thanks to some pandemic-related downtime, there's a book on the way - if the Kickstarter target is met.

Its subtitle, A London Story, indicates where Roberts' geographical focus lies - but ghost signs are to be found everywhere in the UK. They're vestiges of former ownership and indicators of the continual reuse and reappropriation of old buildings - and proof that history isn't only to be found beneath our feet.

On a lockdown walk from our front door last year, I was surprised to spot a former Jacob's biscuit factory in Fairwater and also the site of Samuel Chivers' Ely factory, which ceased production of pickles and jams in the 1970s.

Chivers, it turns out, had the misfortune to lose his leg in an accident with a horse and cart in 1883, but most remarkable was the fact that the amputated limb was subsequently buried without its former owner in Cathays Cemetery. Still, it was in good company - the graveyard is home to at least four other lone legs...