FEATURE Rural life
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
The lost art of the pub sign is found in Bridport…
The first thing many people see when entering a village for the first time is the welcome sight of a pub sign.
Many of these signs are hand painted and a work of art in their own right. A recent exhibition in Bridport, Dorset highlighted the skilled craft of signwriter George Biles, and gave an insight into the work that goes into traditional pub signs.
George was born in 1900 and while young developed an interest in signwriting, calligraphy and painting stage backdrops for the local theatre. He started work as a 14-year-old apprentice, still working up until his death in 1987.
For many years George painted the pub signs for Palmers Brewery, along with other brewers across Dorset and Devon.
Pub signs were developed in medieval times to tell travellers the name of the pub at a time when literacy levels were very low.
Many rural pubs took the names of local trades and George’s signs included many images of ploughmen,
blacksmiths and ropemakers. Though, as Bridport is near the sea and the brewery would be looking to encourage tourists into their hostelries, names like ‘The Travellers Rest’ and ‘The Fishermans Arms’ were popular and included coastal local scenes.
The exhibition was a major retrospective of George’s work, and the brainchild of local signwriter Jemma Thompson.
Jemma worked with Bridport Town Council and Palmers Brewery to research, record and exhibit his works. This was with support from a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £9,550, awarded to the town council to help conserve and celebrate the artworks.
The grant also allowed the brewery’s collection of pub signs to be digitised and supported two sign writing workshops, run alongside the exhibition.
The exhibition itself was spread across the market town with paintings in both the local Arts Centre and Museum, but many of the pub signs
27 uniteLANDWORKER Winter 2024
were displayed in a Royal British Legion Hall.
Jemma said, “Being involved in curating the ‘George Biles King of Signwriters Exhibition’ has been amazing, and involved so many lovely connections, discussions and interactions.
“There was so much universal love and appreciation beaming in from all sides for this old work brought back into the spotlight. It’s about so much more than pub signs!
“The community spirit, shared memories, creativity of all kinds, craftsmanship, generosity and of course the care and love of our countryside – it’s been quite overwhelming.”
Once visitors had explored the large selection of signs on show, there was only one thing left to do - head into the town centre to look for a few of George’s signs still hanging in their rightful place - and maybe grab a pint or two while discussing the artwork.
n By Keith Hatch
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