29 Oct 2026
Traces of the Past on our Streets
How often do we walk along familiar streets without giving a second thought to the things we pass? Look a little closer and you might be surprised by the clues to everyday life in years gone by, many of which are still hiding in plain sight.
In this episode of Creative Connections, we uncover the stories behind some of these overlooked reminders of the past. From mysterious ghost signs and old fire-insurance plaques to curious features beneath our feet, there's more to our streets than first meets the eye.
You might never look at an ordinary street in quite the same way again!
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share it with others who enjoy the natural world and the stories behind it.
The video version can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nNsnCzYmuI
Images featured in this video were sourced from Wikimedia Commons and are freely reusable under their respective licences. Full attribution and licence details are provided below.
The Lanes, Brighton, England, Fry72, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Coal hole cover, Finsbury by Rossographer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Coal-holes, St Mary's, York by Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Pavement light on Princess Street, Shrewsbury by Meirion, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Bethel Street - Haywards pavement light by Evelyn Simak, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Hyatt patent basement extension, Chicago Eng. Co. (self-ID'd at bottom right of engraving) for Brown Bros, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Basement diagram stall light, Hayward Brothers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Boot scraper at St Anne's Church, Western Road, Lewes, District of Lewes, East Sussex, England, Hassocks5489, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
St Anne's Church, Western Road, Lewes, District of Lewes, East Sussex, England, Hassocks5489, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association trough at Horsham, West Sussex, Acabashi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Tram rosettes on buildings in St Giles Street by Evelyn Simak, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Evelyn Simak / St Giles Street - Tram rosette, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Evelyn Simak / 4 Upper King Street - tram rosette, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
12-15 East Street, Chichester, Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fire Plaque on Phone Solutions, Chichester, Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ghost Sign at 63 Middle Street, The Lanes, Brighton (July 2014), Hassocks5489, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Derek Harper / Former circulating library, Milsom Street, Bath, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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