Mad Hatter hanging sign restoration

Sign restoration is a nice job as it feels good to keep old signs alive. It’s interesting to see others work and theres sometimes a chance to try and improve a sign or change it slightly. Mad Hatter Tea Rooms is a nice cafe/tea rooms based in Lyndhurst, in the New Forest. They approached me as their hanging sign was looking a little worse for wear with the weather penetrating into the wood through various coats of paint. I traced the design, sanded and dried out the wood, then applied undercoat, top coat and signwriting enamels. I believe the sign will get them many years use instead of further decay, and is often a photographed favourite with the locals and tourists alike.

before sign restoration                                                         after sign restoration