Oxford Ghost Signs: 24 & 26 George Street
These old Co-op glass panels were removed by Megan's in 2026
but this page has been retained in their memory
These photographs (taken in 2024) show some of the engraved glass panels that at that time still survived at the top of the windows of 24 & 26 George Street, the large shop on the eastern corner of Gloucester Street that is now Megan's Restaurant.
They dated from the time when this building was part of the Co-op. The panels used to run down the side facing Gloucester Street and around the corner into George Street. They read:
TAILORS / SPORTS WEAR / OVERCOATS / RAINCOATS / BOYS WEAR
MENS WEAR / OUTFITTING / SPORTS WEAR / OVERCOATS.
This shop, which was built by Kingerlee in 1900, was occupied by the Oxford Co-operative & Industrial Society Ltd until the 1970s.
In 1933 Kelly's Directory started to specify which Co-op departments occupied this shop in that year, namely “gents' outfitters, tailors, hosiers, hatters &c” and gave two telephone numbers (4116 and 4117). This listing continued until 1938 (with four telephone numbers – 4521. 4522, 4523, and 4524 – from 1936).
In 1940 the name of the business had changed to the Oxford & District Co-operative Society Ltd, but the list of departments remained the same. Then in 1941 and 1943 only “outfitters” was listed, but there was a return to the earlier list from 1945 to 1949., The word “tailors” was dropped between 1952 to 1958.
In 1960 the Co-op received planning permission for a new shop front, and from that year to 1968 there was a complete change and henceforth Nos. 24 & 26 housed just their hardware department.
In 1970 the name of the business had changed to the Oxford & Swindon Co-operative Society Ltd, and their optician and photographic departments were now in No. 24 and their china & glass department in No. 26
The Co-op had moved out by 1973.
A fuller history of this shop, which was built in 1900, can be seen here.