Hove man on A to Z hunt for historic road sign fonts

5:22pm Sunday 13th January 2013 in News By Neil Vowles

HUNT: Nick Sayers in historic road sign font hunt HUNT: Nick Sayers in historic road sign font hunt

An artist is collecting a rather unusual alphabet.

Arty Nick Sayers is attempting to compile an A-Z of letters using the font of historic road signs dotted around Hove.

The graphic designer was inspired by his daughter to begin the project and has stencilled 23 of the 26 letters using the signs.

He now needs the help of fellow residents to try and track down road names in the same font with a J, X and Z in them to complete his unusual collection.

Can you help Nick complete his challenge? Email neil.vowles@theargus.co.uk or call 01273 544530.

Comments(13)

Algeria Touchshriek says...
8:01pm Sun 13 Jan 13

I wonder if this artist has a girlfriend?

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tom servo says...
9:17pm Sun 13 Jan 13

Get an A-Z and look in the back.... you don't need "our" help unless you're just after publici... ahhh... I get it.

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Roundbill says...
10:05pm Sun 13 Jan 13

So it's basically cross-country Scrabble®. But in reverse. And with no other competitors.
This is the legacy of Thatcher's "Care in the Community".

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nsayers says...
12:21am Mon 14 Jan 13

I was approached by the Argus photographer uninvited while I was tracing the letters. I wasn't that fussed about having my photo taken, but it occurred to me it's handy to have publicity as I'm trying to find out more about the street signs/lettering and their history. I thought the Argus readership might be able to provide some knowledge and information.

I didn't expect it to attract snide comments, but then that's Argus online commenters for you. Funnily enough I read an article recently about the modernised Hove street signs, where the comments were all about how the old signs were much better! You can't win.

And yes, I have a girlfriend and am sane.

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Telscombe Cliffy says...
7:41am Mon 14 Jan 13

nsayers wrote:
I was approached by the Argus photographer uninvited while I was tracing the letters. I wasn't that fussed about having my photo taken, but it occurred to me it's handy to have publicity as I'm trying to find out more about the street signs/lettering and their history. I thought the Argus readership might be able to provide some knowledge and information.

I didn't expect it to attract snide comments, but then that's Argus online commenters for you. Funnily enough I read an article recently about the modernised Hove street signs, where the comments were all about how the old signs were much better! You can't win.

And yes, I have a girlfriend and am sane.
Great post, and can see you interest in street name fonts. Brighton itself has it's own style as has parts of London and older parts of other cities. I'm sure I've seen some in Brighton made up of individual enamel letters slotted in order into a cast iron frame. Many of these are high up on buildings out of reach so may explain why so many survive today. You are sane, some people don't understand art. Actually, most people.
I wouldn't take all the comments on here to heart as a lot are for devilish self amusement only!

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PorkBoat says...
12:19pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Mount Zion Place will get you a "Z".

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tom servo says...
12:56pm Mon 14 Jan 13

My apologies to Nick Sayers for being one of the naysayers ;o)

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nsayers says...
11:36pm Mon 14 Jan 13

I've since found an X (Sussex Road, Hove) but still no J or Z. Most of these signs seem to be in Hove, but perhaps there are some in Brighton/Portslade? Looking on Google Street View, Mount Zion Place (Brighton) seems to have much more recent signs.

Naysayers. Boom tish!

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Beachcomber56 says...
11:32am Tue 15 Jan 13

Algeria Touchshriek wrote:
I wonder if this artist has a girlfriend?
It seems Nick is already spoken for, "Algeria". Have you tried internet dating?

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pinballdave says...
12:51pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Your 'J' can be found at St. Johns Road, near Palmiera Square at the seafront end of the road. There is also a sign at the north end of the road, but you'll need a ladder for that one.

Can't think of any roads with a 'Z' though.

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pinballdave says...
1:04pm Tue 15 Jan 13

Bingo. North end of Elizabeth Avenue (junction of Queen Victoria Avenue) looks promising on street view. The Goldstone Crescent end looks like a different font. My first try was Nizells Ave, but they are all modern signs.

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nsayers says...
8:34pm Tue 15 Jan 13

pinballdave wrote:
Bingo. North end of Elizabeth Avenue (junction of Queen Victoria Avenue) looks promising on street view. The Goldstone Crescent end looks like a different font. My first try was Nizells Ave, but they are all modern signs.
Thanks, pinballdave. Unfortunately those are the later, machine-lettered signs. The ones I'm looking for are hand-stencilled — ie: this http://flic.kr/p/8t6
oem versus this http://flic.kr/p/b91
pNM

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nigeyb says...
12:15pm Wed 16 Jan 13

Well done Nick. Great idea for a project.

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