Hundred-year-old sign uncovered at barbershop

A sign promoting chocolates and cigarettes, which could be 100 years-old, has been uncovered on the front of a shop.

It was discovered on the front of a unit at Beaumond Cross, Newark, which is now part of Newark Traditional Barbers.

The previous sign had already been removed when Mr Gary Storey, of signmakers Starlite Signs, Balderton, found three others underneath it were rotting away.

He removed them, including one for a sportswear shop, and discovered the handpainted sign for The Marjorie, which sold chocolates and cigarettes.

Mr Storey, 58, said: “I have lived in Newark all my life and I cannot remember it being a shop like that.

“The sign is in perfect condition because it has been covered away from the wind and rain for so long.

“We are going to fit another sign on top of it but we are going to preserve it as it is.

“It is a traditional handmade sign that could be up to 100 years-old.”

Mr Storey will fit a polythene cover over the sign to preserve it.

He said in 30 years in the industry he had not come across anything similar.

Mr Storey said: “It is very rare I come across anything like that in Newark. I was shocked to find it.”

The owner of Newark Traditional Barbers, Mr Jorge B. Ramos, said it was a historical find.

“We even thought about matching it with a similar sign on our existing unit,” he said. “I would love to display it but I am not allowed to advertise cigarettes.

Mr Ramos took on the barbershop business last month and has refurbished its premises.

He has installed a marble and wood barbershop unit from the 1940s in the existing unit and the adjacent unit will become a reception area with a staffroom upstairs.

Do you have any memories of The Marjorie? If so, contact the Advertiser newsroom on 01636 681234 or email news@newarkadvertiser.co.uk