old traffic signs

We're all used to the system of road signs we have in the UK, but they weren't always like that. Prior to the Warboys Report of 1963, a completely different style of signage was used, which was gradually phased out. However, some still remain, either because they are in preservation or the councils forgot to replace them.

Here is a collection of old road signs from around the country.

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	A direction sign that would have originally been found at the end of the A58 Crompton Way in Bolton. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	A direction sign that would have originally been found at the end of the B6199 Plodder Lane in Over Hulton, Bolton. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	A direction sign that would have originally been found somewhere around Little Lever, near Bolton. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	This direction sign would have probably been found in the area of Darcy Lever, near Bolton. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	This direction sign would have been found in Bolton, probably close to the town centre. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Two signs from completely different areas of then-South Lancashire. The top sign would most likely have been found in the Darcy Lever area of Bolton, whilst the second may have been found in Oldham or Saddleworth (but could have been from anywhere along the A62!) Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Probably originally located in either Bury, Westhoughton or somewhere east of Wigan. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Another sign from the Bolton area, but this one would have been found in Blackrod, where the B5328 has to make two turns on its route from Horwich to Wigan. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Direction sign from the area around Weaste or Eccles in Salford, possibly close to the old Ladywell Hospital. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Two more direction signs, the first may be from somewhere close to Oldham or Saddleworth (maybe alongside the A62 sign shown previously), whilst the second is from mid-Wales, possibly at the end of the B4340 at Pontrhyddfendigaid in Ceredigion. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Direction sign with a big gap above Marple, possibly to emphasise the non-classified status of the road leading off to the right. Probably located in Hazel Grove, near Stockport. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	This sign looks to have been located on an unclassified road close to where it ends on the B7046, the classified road making a double bend at this point, close to Skares in East Ayrshire. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Prior to the Warboys Report, the AA and RAC were permitted to install their own signs, as long as they were to the required deign standards. This one was located close to Cawdor in the Scottish Highlands. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	A pair of direction signs that would have been found in Platt Bridge, near Wigan, should they have been found together. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Before the Warboys Report was published, all warning signs were on a white rectangular sign, with a red triangle mounted at the top of the pole. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Another warning sign with triangle, with a prohibition sign and accompanying red circle. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Another crossroads sign at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	A low bridge warning sign. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Sign instructing of a one way street. Signs giving orders were also found with a red circle above. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Sign warning of a low bridge on a road heading to the right. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	A warning sign advising of a hospital, with a bus stop included on the same sign. Part of the pre-Warboys signage collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	A selection of warning sign plates from the collection at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Two more warning signs at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Sign warning of concealed turnings at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Typical old-styled basic bus stop sign at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Stockport borough roundel that would have sat at the top of a finger post sign, at the Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	Old tin crossing lights, Museum of Transport, Manchester.

	This direction sign was originally located in north Manchester. The blanked out part on the right of the sign is hiding "A664 Rochdale" and "A62 Oldham". The sign was replaced approximately ten years ago. Photo courtesy of the Greater Manchester Transport Society.

	This direction sign was originally located on Charlestown Road in Blackley, Manchester. The sign may no longer be with us, but the stripy barrier is still there! Photo courtesy of the Greater Manchester Transport Society.

	This direction sign was originally located in the Chadderton area of Oldham, on the B6195 just before it makes a right turn at the traffic lights beyond the bend shown in the photograph. Photo courtesy of the Greater Manchester Transport Society.

	Sign on a bend on the B6195 on the edge of Chadderton, near Oldham. Photo courtesy of the Greater Manchester Transport Society.

	An old road bends warning sign. Photo courtesy of the Greater Manchester Transport Society.

	Old style parking sign. Photo courtesy of the Greater Manchester Transport Society.

	An old direction sign for a car park. Photo courtesy of the Greater Manchester Transport Society.

	An old finger post in Northumberland Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	A well preserved finger post sign near to Dent Station, Yorkshire. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	Finger post on the B1113 between South Lopham and Redgrave, Suffolk. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	Finger post near Glaisdale, North Yorkshire. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	Another view of the finger post near to Glaisdale. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	"Red Post" finger post sign in Dorset. The reason why some finger posts were painted red was because this marked out the route that prisoners would take on their two day march from Dorchester Prison to Poole, where they would be deported to Australia. As many of the prison wardens were illiterate, the signs would tell the wardens that the marching group would need to turn right at the junction. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	Another view of the Red Post sign from a different angle. That roundel looks very London Transport-esque, doesn't it? Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	An old finger post sign on the lane between the A31 and A35 west of Lyndhurst, Hampshire. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	Finger post on the B6309 in Northumberland. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	Sign warning of an upcoming stop / give way sign. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	Close-up of the "Halt" panel. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	An old warning sign for an upcoming junction. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	A warning sign advising of children's play area up ahead. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	An sign instructing motorists to stay to the left. Photo by Ian Britton (Freefoto).

	This rather nice road sign was found on Market Hill in Woodbridge, Suffolk. Unfortunately, the sign was removed in early 2008. Photo by Keith Evans (CC).

	An old finger-post sign on the edge of Stamford military training area in Norfolk. Photo by Keith Evans (CC).

	A milage sign at the edge of Otley, West Yorkshire, on the former route of the A660. Photo by David Spencer (CC).

	This finger post sign in Swindon is in excellent condition (probably been repainted?) and hasn't had its road number plate removed, unlike other examples elsewhere. However, the road this sign is located next to is no longer the A420, but now the A4289. Photo by Brian Marshall (CC).

	This old directional sign survives in Litton Cheney, Dorset. Photo by Chris Downer (CC).

	A finger post on the edge of Blackmoor, Somerset. Photo by Ruth Sharville (CC).

	An old prohibition sign in Keith, Moray. Photo by Christopher Gillan (CC).

	This sign is found on a little lane that used to be the main route between Portskewett and Crick, until the M4 (now M48) came along and the road was realigned, making this a dead end. Photo by Ruth Sharville (CC).

	This direction sign gives directions for traffic on the B6151 in Shipley, West Yorkshire. Photo by David Spencer (CC).

	Old RAC direction signs on the former A2 (now pedestrianised) High Street in Canterbury. Photo by Nigel Chadwick (CC).

	A direction sign in Dorset, on the former B3081. Photo by Chris Downer (CC).

	An old warning sign on a lane near Llanfair Talhaiarn, North Wales Photo by Ceri Thomas (CC).

	An old direction sign in Caerwent, Gwent Photo by Ruth Sharville (CC).

	This old direction sign was photographed in Wymondham, Norfolk. Photo by Keith Evans (CC).

	An old warning sign giving advance notice of the narrow bridge spanning the Garple Burn, near to St John's Town of Dalry, Dumfries and Galloway Photo by Bob Peace (CC).

	An old direction sign which also features the C15, which shouldn't appear on the sign as only A and B Roads, plus motorway numbers should appear on signs. This sign is near Loch Gorm in Western Scotland. Photo by Patrick Mackie (CC).

	A pair of warning signs on a small lane in Luib, Skye. Photo by John Allan (CC).

	An old finger-post sign in The Street, Charsfield. Photo by Adrian Cable (CC).

	An old direction sign in Milltown of Rothiemay, Aberdeenshire. Photo by Anne Burgess (CC).

	Finger post in Deddington, Oxfordshire Photo by Andrew Hackney (CC).

	Finger post in Seatoller Bridge, Cumbria Photo by Trevor Willis (CC).

	An old-style direction sign on the former B4385 in Bishop's Castle, Shropshire. Photo by Stephen McKay (CC).

	A pair of direction signs road signs in Knockentiber, Ayrshire. But that 20mph sign is illegal, as the green circle must be red for it to be enforcable. Photo by Thomas Nugent (CC).

	T-Junction sign near Girsby, North Yorks Photo by Mark Harrington (CC).

	This finger post survives on Congleton Road, Sandbach, on the route of the former A534. Photo by Stephen Craven (CC).

	Direction sign in Barnet, on the A1000. Photo by David Howard (CC).

	An old sign that still sits on Ballyholme Road in Groomsport, Northern Ireland. Photo by Ross (CC).

	A old fashioned A-road road sign on Wood Lane (formerly the A40) in West London. Photo by Phillip Perry (CC).

	An old RAC Sign at the end of Buckholm Farm Road in Buckholm, Borders. Photo by Ian Lees (CC).

	These warning signs, for a steep hill and double bend, sit on a lane next to the Offa's Dyke long distance footpath in Churchtown, Shropshire. Photo by Dan Haigh (CC).

	Direction sign in Caulkerbush, Dumfries and Galloway. Photo by Walter Baxter (CC).

	This Pre-Warboys direction sign is on New Road in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland. Photo by Aubrey Dale (CC).

	An old Ayr County Council finger post in Crosshill. Photo by Mary and Angus Hogg (CC).

	Wooden finger post sign in Willoughby, Lincolnshire. Photo by Michael Patterson (CC).

	This finger post sign Longyester, near Edinburgh, is rare in that the distances are measured in eights-of-a-mile! Photo by Richard Webb (CC).

	An adapted road sign, which has had the A painted out and a B painted over it, and a 2 tagged onto the end - this was done when the A419 was downgraded after the M4 opened during the 1960s. Photo by Jonathan Billinger (CC).

	A combination of old and new signs on one post, just east of Brundall, Norfolk. Photo by Hugh Venables (CC).

	This old cast iron information sign gives drivers lots of options as they depart from the pier by the Gourock ferry in Dunoon. Photo by Gordon Hatton (CC).

	This sign is in Walcot, Lincolnshire. Photo by Ian Paterson (CC).

	This old Roxboroughshire Council sign is on the A699 near Maxton. Photo by Phil Catterall (CC).

	A great sign is alongside the road to Sourhope and Cocklawfoot, Borders. Photo by Walter Baxter (CC).

	This direction sign is in New Kings Road, Fulham. Photo by David Howard.

	A "no through road" sign, located in the NW9 area of London. Photo by David Howard.

	This old sign displays the number of the road we're on - in this case, it is the B300 in Southwark, London. Photo by David Howard.

	Another B300 sign, this time at the other end of Union Road in Southwark. This sign could date from as early as 1922, when B-Road numbers were shown in white text on a black background, whereas A-Road numbers were black-on-white. Photo by David Howard.

	This "no waiting" sign has stood the test of time, and can be seen in St Ann's Road, London N15 . Photo by David Howard.

	An old distance sign on the A281 near Guildford. Photo by David Howard.

	This old fashioned direction sign can be seen on the A3100 in Farncombe, Surrey. Photo by David Howard.

	A car park direction sign that was photographed at Belmont Circle in Harrow. Photo by David Howard.

	This finger post displays a fair bit of information, and was seen on Uxbridge Road in Stanmore, Middlesex. Photo by David Howard.

	An old direction sign seen on Grey's Inn Road in Holborn, London. Photo by David Howard.

	A yellow-background adorns this direction sign on Ditton Road in Tolworth. Photo by David Howard.

	An advanced direction sign on the approach to the roundabout in Cockfosters, north London. This sign was about to be replaced when the photograph was taken, as seen by the two poles stood in front of it. Photo by David Howard.

	This sign was spotted on the A404 in Sudbury, Middlesex, heading towards Wembley. Photo by David Howard.