Market Harborough shop’s ghost sign restored

Duncan Murray Wines in Adam and Eve Street has had its ghost sign, which reads Taylors, hand painted by specialist contractors who have brought it back to life.

This restoration project has been funded by Harborough District Council with the aim of preserving the nostalgic integrity of the shop’s sign by duplicating the original colours as closely as possible.

Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “This is another welcomed restoration which adds to the heritage of Market Harborough. It’s fantastic to see this sign brought back to its original condition again.”

Taylors was first painted on to the front of the shop when Mr Morris Taylor bought it around 1952 from Mr Busby and changed the layout and décor.

Mr Busby had a takeaway in the front part of the property with four tables each seating four people. The entrance was from the centre of the shop front in Adam and Eve Street.

Mr Taylor moved the takeaway one room back with the entrance from Sulley's Yard. He turned the whole of the front part of the shop into a cafe seating about 32 people.

Mr Frank Taylor bought the premises from his father in 1967. Over time he built a cafeteria in the gardens of 1 2 & 3 Sulley’s Yard seating 70 to 80 people. He later converted the upstairs of the three cottages into two restaurants with seating for about 200.

If you know of any ghost signs that are located in Market Harborough town centre or in the Harborough district, please contact the council via email at business@harborough.gov.uk