226 - Close to York St Johns University, on the end wall of a house is this old advertisement. I've seen it many times before, but not really thought about it until I saw an article about fundraising to restore it to it's former glory. This set me wondering what Bile Beans were.
Well, they were a laxative - one of their magazine adverts began 'Ordinary laxatives couldn't free her from sluggishness and undigested fats - She is a new woman since taking Bile Beans Laxative Pills...'
They were devised in Australia in 1899 and became a brand leader in the UK during the 1930s and were still on sale until the mid-1980s.
The sign itself was last restored in 1986, but as you can see it is looking rather worse for wear again.
well then. Good thing you explained what this was all about bc when i read it i was like, "What the heck does that mean?!" haha. This is such a kewl sign!! i like the bricks. Great shot!
Most interesting capture Ian, the advertisement is so much a sign of the times. It would be difficult to find tradesmen to paint something like that and the simplicity of the wording speak of a bygone era. Thanks for the detailed background.
It's so great that this is still there after all these years, it would be good if it was restored again. @fueast posted a picture of a similar advert in Leeds which I mistook for this one that I remembered from childhood, see http://365project.org/fueast/365/2012-03-07
Ian I love these old advertisments like this and we have several of them here in Edmonton. I posted some shots of a few of them last year in Sept.. Glad they are restoring this one again
Thank you Alison - interesting to compare the Leeds and York versions! I'm wondering if there are any more ghost signs in York. I may go hunting tomorrow!
Thank you, but I think you've got this confused with the Stubbs sign in Walmgate - this one is on Lord Mayors Walk. I hope to go for a wander tomorrow to see if the Stubbs one is still in place.
What a great find. I hope it is restored again. There is a similar advert near here for Rudge Bikes but so far there have been no signs of anyone wanting to restore it.
Love these remains of former life. Nice find! How wonderful were we to give you such an amazing product as could assist you in difficult digestive times ;-)
Thank you Jo, and thank you for the follow. Many of my shots are of the city, including a tour round the city walls in August / September. This advert appears again too when it was restored ( http://365project.org/if1/365/2012-11-07)
January 9th, 2013
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Thank you Kd - I'll have to go back for another shot when it's restored!
Thank you Tony - while investigating the background to this I discovered that there is quite a lot of interest in these 'ghost' signs!
Thank you Pyrrhula. This sign made me wonder if there are any more of these 'ghost' signs around York
Thank you Ladyjane - people certainly had some strange fads!
Thank you Louise. It was last restored in 1986, so it's actually survived the years since then quite well!
Thank you Alison - interesting to compare the Leeds and York versions! I'm wondering if there are any more ghost signs in York. I may go hunting tomorrow!
Thank you Christine - if it gets restored I'll have to get another shot.
Thank you Sara - they are quite fascinating!
Thank you Bob - if it gets restored, I'll go back for another shot!
Thank you Brian - I've had a look at your shots, and they are quite fascinating! I'm going hunting to see if I can find any more in York.
Thank you Roslyn - they do say something about the times in which they were created. I'll get another shot of this if it gets restored.
Thank you Livia - I'm going to see if there are any more similar signs around York, so there may be more to come!
Thank you, but I think you've got this confused with the Stubbs sign in Walmgate - this one is on Lord Mayors Walk. I hope to go for a wander tomorrow to see if the Stubbs one is still in place.
Thank you Marie - it will be interesting to see what it looks like when it's restored!
Thank you Caren - I'm going to go hunting to see if I can find any more of these around York.
Thank you Ann - I agree, the whole product sounds a bit dubious if you ask me!
Thank you Janet - these signs are an interesting bit of history, and it's a shame if they are lost.
Thank you Kristin, and I agree, not a very attractive product! The good news is that enough funds have been raised to restore it!
Thank you Alicia - this is quite an export! I'm surprised how popular this product once was!
Thank you Jo, and thank you for the follow. Many of my shots are of the city, including a tour round the city walls in August / September. This advert appears again too when it was restored ( http://365project.org/if1/365/2012-11-07)