Excuse the unwise street slang, but I’ve just been looking at the most charming website. I was burbling to a friend about the recent loss of the ‘Cash Register Systems’ empty shop and sign from my old road. It was a 70s sign, a bit drab and business like in its day, but through the lens of nostalgia it was Reggie Perrin meets Are You Being Served. Anyway, my friend pointed me to London Shop Fronts.

This excellent site, run by Emily Webber, catalogues the shop fronts that make up our local streets. Search by London borough and enjoy seeing your local chippy, launderette and Chinese takeaway in all its fuctional, faded beauty. These are a few from my old ‘hood of Peckham. Love the pragmatism of opening a sexy undie shop but not changing the sign. Maybe they just knew that ‘Baby Linen’ font was too cute to go to waste.

A little further research shows that you can even buy mounted prints of any of the photos on the site for £80, unmounted £40. I’m so tempted! And Emily’s personal website is full of great recommendations for quirky photography by other people in a similar vein.