A Sign of the times! No 1048 (won by Joyce 25/7/10)

[Peter]

Right guys this sign writing (or whats left of it) is on the gable end of a house and has really faded over the years!

This is exactly how it is, there has been no photoshopping to make it any harder than what it is, what you see is what you get!

Perhaps someone can tell me a little bit of history behind the sign as well?

But whereabouts is it?

Good luck

[Joyce]

Hi! Is this on a house in Kingswood Grove, Douglas?

[Peter]

Hi! Is this on a house in Kingswood Grove, Douglas?

Hi Joyce

I am gobsmacked, it is on the gable end of a house in Kingswood Grove, in fact No 4 Kingswood Grove in Douglas.

Well done to a Lady from Liverpool for getting this one, I really did honestly think this would have lasted for a bit longer than a few hours, so well done for that Joyce

Now as far as what it says is a different matter!!!???

Peter

[Joyce]

Thanks! My mother was living in Ellan Vannin Home until recently and I visited her often at weekends - hence became familiar with the scenery around there!

It looks to me as though the house was a boarding house and the sign gives the name of the house and the name of the owner - the latter being " D Hughes or something along those lines. I grew up in Strand Street and went to St Thomas`s school so some of my friends lived in and near Kingswood Road. All the houses of that type were boarding houses then (a long time ago!).

[Joyce]

Hi again! I`ve done some googling and found out that Hinchinbrook Island is in North Queensland, Australia. So if the first word on the sign is Hinchinbrook(as it appears to be) that is a real place. Also, in Porters directory of 1889, 4 Kingswood Grove is the address of Herbert Hindley. It would have been nice if it had been D Hughes, but maybe he moved in later.

[Peter]

Hi Joyce

Fantastic information with this sign, and I agree with your findings, I initially thought that that the name may have been Jo Hughes however your version seems to fit.

Now slightly off topic but can you remember the little row of houses that stood where the new section of the Manx Museum is, there was a row of about 5 houses facing well Road Hill?

I really do love reminiscing over the "old" Isle of Man.

Cheers Joyce

Peter

[Joyce]

Hi! Sorry, but I don`t remember that row of houses. I remember all the little streets where the Chester St Car Park is now. One of those had a flight of steps at the top. One day a boy went along the lane at right angles to it, and turned left into the street, forgetting about the flight of steps.... He had a bumpy ride to the bottom!

[Peter]

Hi Joyce thanks for that, I have asked forum member Laggeyder to see if he has a picture of Kingswood Terrace, as one was published in his late fathers book called "Streets of Douglas Old and New" and he will have a look to see if he can find one.

All fascinating stuff.

Peter

[Peter]

Hi Joyce

Here is the image of Kingswood Terrace circa 1970 prior to its demolition to make way for the Manx Museum extension, you can see the old museum to the left of the image and ironically the phone box at the top of Crellins Hill is still there.

Also the sign on the house is just opposite the side of Kingswood Terrace (on Kingswood Grove).


Image is Copyright of Manx National Heritage.

[Joyce]

Thanks! Very inteestinging! I`ll have to see if I can get a copy of Laggeyder`s father`s book when I am next in IOM.