Christmas wreaths

The tradition of hanging a Christmas wreath on the front door of a house is one of long standing. In the past it would have been made of what the householder could lay his or her hands on - holly, conifer, perhaps pine cones and mistletoe. Some people continue to make them in this way but the majority, from what I see, hang one that has been factory made and bought from a shop. As with all such things commercialism has widened the palette and wreaths now consist of traditional materials but also artificial branches and flowers, seasonal symbols, glitter, painted objects etc. A "pop-up" Christmas shop is now a feature of many towns and such wreaths are one of the main items sold. I photographed these wreaths for sale in a Herefordshire town.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Old shop front lettering

It is not unusual to come across a shop front that still shows evidence of the Victorian or Edwardian period in which it was constructed. Decorative woodwork, engraved glass, pull out canopies and mosaic signs on the ground by the entrance are all relatively common. Less frequently found are ornate brass shop signs engraved with the name of the business. The letter "R" above is an example from this kind of sign in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire. It reads (across the base of each of the two main windows), "T. PRICE." and is as clear as the day it was put in place. Sadly, the original business is no more and today the premises host a restaurant.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

A basket of flowers

Walking along one of Ledbury's main shopping streets I was prompted to ask myself, "If you are a shop selling brassieres how do you advertise yourself to the passing public?" What prompted this odd query was a shop solely devoted to selling that particular undergarment that was using the device of a traditional bicycle with a wicker basket full of flowers. It was approaching the problem - as advertisers are often wont to do - by coming at it from an oblique angle. Time will tell if it works. I took a photograph of the basket of flowers and found that a strong vignette added considerably to the image.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

The Tailor of Taste

The men's clothing retailer, Burton, began life in 1903 when it was established by Montague Burton in Chesterfield. By 1929 it had over 400 stores as well as factories and mills, and was a FTSE 100 company. Today it is a brand name subsumed under the banner of the Arcadia group. The tiled sign that was part of the advertising wrapped around the store in Abergavenny may well date from those heady days in the late 1920s when the company was a familiar high street presence. The lettering is an interesting mix of the flamboyant and the spare and the sign itself was made to last - which it has done, remarkably well.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Old adverts, Ross on Wye

Old, enamel advertisements are much prized these days. People value their artwork and lettering that speaks of a different, simpler time. Some of these adverts have simply remained in the place where they were first fixed, their continued presence a testament to the durability of the materials from which they were fashioned. Others are deliberately placed in prominent places to catch the eye. This facade in Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, is a riotous example of the latter. Interestingly, few of the advertised brands are still extant.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100