17/06/2026
Have you spotted the GHOST WRITING on the front of The Folk of Gloucester on Westgate Street? As the red ochre paint gradually flakes away, it's revealing words not seen for almost 130 years. Gloucester Civic Trust volunteers have been doing some research about it:
Above the window to the right, the word "CHEMIST" is visible, and over the door, the number 52 can be seen. Above the extreme right of the window on the left is a fainter letter H, which is believed to be part of the name BEACH.
Tom Clark Beach was a chemist and druggist trading in Gloucester during the latter part of the 19th century. An electoral register from 1890 shows him living at 52 Westgate Street, now known to us as number 103. That is probably him standing in the doorway in the first black and white photograph.
By 1901, Tom Beach had moved to Rugby in Warwickshire. Number 52 was occupied by another chemist, Reuben Hird. The second black and white photograph shows the premises during his tenure. BEACH and the number 52 have been removed and replaced with R. HIRD.
Interestingly, the lettering in both photographs is darker than the walls, and yet the “ghost writing” is manifesting itself as white. We think this may be because the whole building was painted white when it became The Folk Museum in the 1930s. There is clearly a reaction of sorts taking place.
We will keep you updated when we know more and have decided how we go ahead with this exciting development!
Ghost Signs from bygone times
