Donovan Bros

What do Naomi Campbell, rock band Wet Wet Wet, and Jack the Ripper have in common? Well, they all (likely) have been in front of this London spot! Naomi Campbell and Wet Wet Wet have been photographed with the Donovan Bros storefront as a backdrop, and while Jack the Ripper hadn’t been photographed in front of this storefront (or any storefront, to the chagrin of true crime junkies), the building was there since the 1780s and one of his grisly murders happened just a few blocks south on this street. So it’s likely Mr. the Ripper strolled past the building, even if he wasn’t doing supermodel or rockstar poses. That we know of.

What we know to be true is that Donovan Bros, established over 75 years ago, began as a paper bag shop, supplying generations of stallholders from the nearby Spitalfields Market with paper bags, string, and twine. Though the business no longer operates out of this location, the hand painted signage remains as a preserved heritage feature and London landmark. While no longer a functional location, it represents the contrast (and sometimes tension) between urban change and the preservation of history of the working class.

If the Jack the Ripper anecdote wasn’t spooky enough (or too much of a stretch) for you, the Donovan Bros sign is considered a ghost sign (but no, this doesn’t mean a signal from a spectre). Ghost signs are faded, hand-painted advertisements that remain on building exteriors long after the original business or advertisement has disappeared. They are treasured pieces of urban history, offering passersby a glimpse into the past. Or a backdrop for a photoshoot.