The Pig & Fiddle, 2 Saracen Street, Bath

While we welcome efforts to enhance this corner and repair and redecorate the existing historic wall, it is regrettable that an advert of this nature has been applied without listed building consent or specialist conservation advice.

Authentic ghost signs are found in the city – faded and hardly legible and telling a story of past activities. Authenticity is a vital part of the conservation of the World Heritage Site. The installation of this type of ‘ghost sign’ would not be an authentic ghost sign.

The new ghost sign is in fact a large new advertisement, as there is no historical proof of a previous ghost sign in place – in fact the profile of the gable of the former building before Saracen Street was cut through is still visible. It is over-large and much more strident than an historic ghost sign and is unlikely to soften with weathering.

Approval could lead to other applications for similar unauthentic ghost signs elsewhere which will individually and collectively compromise the authenticity of the historic environment, as such it neither preserves nor and enhances the character or appearance of the conservation area.
The Trust therefore views the ‘ghost sign’ as detrimental to the visual amenity of the street scene, and detracts from authenticity of the World Heritage Site.

The signage is therefore contrary to Section 12 (Conserving and enhancing the historic environment) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Place Making Plan policies B4 (World Heritage Site) and HE1. We would recommend that the application be refused and action taken to remedy the breach of planning control.