Returning to Preston Train Station to catch my train back, I was again reminded of the importance in keeping to the left of public passageways. Unfortunately as I walked up these stairs an oncoming large family walked into me and again scuppered my (this time lawful) path. Maybe one sign on every other step just isn't enough?
On my way back to Preston Train Station I was confronted with A-Board clusters at particular pavement corners. Charles had pointed out the Preston City Centre A-Board influx, when I had my initial tour of Preston. Most of these A-boards are A2 in size, apart from the larger chalkboard in the photo below, peaking above. I wondered if anyone might purchase the available XL A-Board (H:152.4cm x W:91.44cm) in the future, then I wondered if I might make the XL A-Board in the near future?
I next found myself walking around the outdoor market, again in my element at the array of different styles of hand made signs. I then started to think of what my stall could be called, if I created one. I'm not sure I could 'out pun' 'The Book Stop's Here', but I would like to try to. This is definitely a point to be furthered.
After leaving the Bus Station Subway I started to find more signs with absent parts that sparked my interest, in view to carrying out repairs of sorts or as a start of different locative narratives. I found a Worl of Optics in the Guild Hall and also a couple of amazing ghost signs around the area outdoors. These ghost signs included the intriguingly named 'Aladdin's Cove' and the very pleasing to the eye Lambert Court Press sign. I'm interested in the places these signs once indicated, what they indicate now and what they could indicate with my appropriation or alongside particular interventions.
I headed out through the Bus Station Subway, this time with the intention of continuing my derive. I was immediately confronted with an oncoming pedestrian, who I walked into on the right hand side of the subway, underneath one of the intermittent 'Keep Left' signs installed....
After my minor lawlessness I spotted some other signs in the subway which caught my interest. These signs had absent letters and letter parts, which led me to consider lettering repairs. A walk around further parts of the station later led me to other signs with missing lettering parts. Would I be allowed to restore these signs? Perhaps ironically not, due to the building's listed status? Temporarily though maybe? This was something to consider further.
My derive was immediately faltered as I deliberately headed straight to Preston Bus Station. It was a predictable thing for a Sign Writer to do. I was so in ore of the signage when I had my initial tour of Preston with Charles and Elaine, that I had to go straight back there and gawp.
The array of contradictory signage in the Bus Station is incredible, I do not mean this at all in a derogatory way. The mixture of type styles are extremely disparate: from the infamously neutral Helvetica (matching it's neighbouring Swiss Design clock) alongside hand painted texts, vinyl texts and pasted up A4 paper signs. This variety of co-existing type styles was definitely something I needed to look into.
It was with the helpful advice of National Rail Enquiries, on Monday 13th January 2014, that I made my way to the City of Preston on my intended day of travel, rather than on the day that had just passed, as my memory failed me whilst accessing the Journey Planner. This was my first day in Preston to begin my research for my In Certain Places residency. Once managing to get the train to Preston on the correct day, I embarked on a derive around the City Centre, looking out for 'Signs of Interest'.
