Two ghost signs for one story ........ the Swan in Stockport and Vaux the brewery

Now there is more than a little irony in this picture of the ghost sign on the gable end of number 37 Shaw Heath in Stockport.

The Swan closed a long time ago but as if to add insult to injury  its sign is just above an advertising hoarding for another brewery boldy announcing “NEW YEAR, NEW START, BE YOUR OWN BOSS, RUN YOUR OWN ROBINSON’S PUB."

And given the large numbers of pubs that are closing every month across the country there may be something a ironic in that offer.

But I suppose the brewery couldn’t miss the opportunity to promote themselves along with their pub the Armoury which stands close by at number 31.

They may even reflect that not only have they seen off a rival pub but a brewery as well because like the Swan Vaux which supplied the beer has also vanished from the scene.

I have fond memories of Vaux which dominated Sunderland where I spent some happy summers a long time ago.

It was founded in 1837 and for 170 years was a major employer in the town.

In the 1990s the company expanded into hotels and in March 1999 closed their two breweries but continued to run the pubs until the firm was taken over by Whitbread in 2000.

And that I suspect was when the Swan closed, although I am not completely sure.

But someone will help me out.

Today the old pub is home to a pawnbrokers who themselves advertised on that hoarding below our ghost sign.

So two ghost signs for the price of one story, not bad I think.

Picture; ghost sign on Shaw Heath, 2015 from the collection of Graham Gill

*Vaux Breweries,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaux_Breweries