Environmental Study

Market Building Lettering

Lettering for the Fowler Building. Special controls apply to signs in the Market Buildings, based on those devised by the GLC in 1978, and they should be adhered to.

LETTERING - Type, Styles, Size, Materials for Facing

1. (a) Lettering for shop signs should preferably use one of the following type styles - Caslon, Century Schoolbook, Clarendon, Folio, Futura, Modern 20, Optima and Stymie; approved variants of type may be used, e.g. Roman, Italic, Classic, medium, bold, shaded or floriated. Examples of some of the above type styles are illustrated. Examples of other suitable types can be found in the International Type Book (Studio editions 1990).

(b) Maximum height of letters on fascia should not exceed 200mm (this also applies to signs backpainted on shop front glazing). Lettering on hanging signs can be any reasonable size to fit the area of an approved sign.

(c) Letters on wooden fascias and signboards may be painted or made of wood (painted or varnished), brass or bronze (where fixed to brickwork to be to detail approved by English Heritage and Westminster City Council). There are no compulsory or recommended colours (except for Central Avenue) but it is best to use strong, dark, historical colours as indicated in the accompanying paint sheets.

2. Positioning of sign types
(a) North Range north side; South Range south side. Fascia panels may be signwritten or letters cut from wood and painted or varnished, or cut from brass or bronze. Hanging signboards or object signs should not be used under the colonnades.

(b) North range south side; South Range north side. Letters should be made of wood, painted or varnished, or brass or bronze and attached to the brickwork above the arch, in a curve following the arch or line with the straight brick courses. A curved or straight timber fascia mounted above the arch may be used and either signwritten or 3 dimensional letters fixed to it.

(c) Central Avenue North Wing North Side - facing on North Hall; Central Avenue South Wing South Side - facing on South Hall. Fascia boards may be signwritten or letters cut from wood and painted or varnished, or cut from brass or bronze. Hanging signboards or object boards may be attached to brickwork in approved positions.

(d) Central Avenue. Letters attached to fascia to be cut from wood and to be 220mm high, l2mm thick, finish to be painted varnished, cut to pattern Century Schoolbook Bold, to match the original; conisistent signs throughout.

3. Other Sign Categories
(a) Illuminated signs (neon or other) may only be used set back inside the shopfronts, and generally are not acceptable in the Market Building.

(b) Signs may be back-painted on shopfront glazing in colours or gold leaf.

(c) Paper or plastic signs or advertising should not be permanently fixed to walls or shopfront glazing.