“Newark Banksy”: A Passion, A Ladder, and 70 Cast Iron Signs

I bloody love hearing about regular folk doing good and its been an absolute pleasure to write this one.

In every town, there are unsung heroes. Not the ones with medals, clipboards or fancy robes, but the quiet grafters who simply get on with making their community better. This person is one such hero—a resident who, with no fanfare and absolutely no desire for recognition, has taken it upon themselves to restore the town’s cast iron road signs. And what a job they’ve done: between 60 and 70 signs lovingly cleaned, repainted, and revived, all off their own bat.

This isn’t council work, not publically funded, there’s no contract, no invoice, and certainly no employee with a paintbrush in hand. Just a regular resident, driven by a passion for Newark’s history and a deep sense of community pride. They don’t want their name in lights—in fact, they’d rather not have it mentioned at all.

“I’ve happily worked without recognition and will continue to do so,” they say.

I’m calling them the “Newark Banksy.” Not because theyre out spray-painting masterpieces on the side of the Town Hall, but because, like the famous street artist, nobody really knows who they are—and they would llike to keep it that way.

And Banksign sounded weird.

Armed with a ladder, a keen eye, and a steady hand, Newark Banksy has spent months scouring Newark for neglected signs—some perched above doorways, others lurking at knee height, many untouched for over half a century. Each restoration takes between half an hour and forty-five minutes, depending on the weather and the sun’s cooperation. Permission is always sought before a ladder goes up!

Their tally so far? Between 60 and 70 signs—each one a small but significant act of preservation. “History has a way of disappearing in plain sight, unless it is looked for and noticed,” they say. “They’re above front doors, next to first floor windows, and lower than a knee. For years I’d noticed them decaying and left to corrode, falling into disrepair. Many replaced with cheaper ‘pressings’ at ground level.”

The Wellington Foundry: Newark’s Industrial Backbone

These signs are more than just wayfinders—they’re relics of Newark’s industrial heyday. The Wellington Foundry which was across the Trent from the old Brewery on Northgate, was once renowned for its fine castings. While Nicholson’s Foundry might be the name on everyone’s lips, Wellington quietly produced everything from ornamental cemetery gates to the humble street signs that still dot Newark’s streets.

These signs are survivors, outlasting decades of weather, urban change, and the temptation to replace them with cheaper alternatives. Each one restored is a nod to Newark’s past—a reminder to “look up,” as they tell their children, “because that’s where the history is, hidden in plain sight.”

In an age of shrinking budgets and growing bureaucracy, it’s easy to assume that the little things—the details that give a town its character—will simply fade away. Their work is a shining example of what happens when ordinary people take pride in where they live, stepping up not for applause, but for the love of place and history.

There’s no superhero cape here. Just a regular person, doing their bit to keep Newark’s history alive—one sign at a time. If you see them out with their ladder and paint, maybe give them a wave. But don’t expect to stop for a selfie. Theyve got another sign to do.

A wise quote from the resident is below (and I couldnt agree more)

"I know people at times rightly have negative things to say about how their council tax is spent.
So by doing, instead of moaning, perhaps there will be a few more pennies to address their concerns.

Pick up that litter.
Give time to that vunerable neighbour.
Weed below wall that irritates you.
Return that shopping trolley that's not yours in the street."

Absolute Belter of a resident. 🙂

So next time you’re wandering Newark’s streets, look up. You might just spot a freshly painted sign, a glint of history restored—not by a faceless contractor, but by one of your neighbours. And if you see Newark Banksy at work, maybe offer a quiet nod of thanks. Just don’t ask for their name—they’re not in it for the glory.

We applaud you, and thank you for making the town just that little bit nicer, street by street. 😁

It makes me proud to be part of this community
www.newarkguide.co.uk/about

newarkbanksy

civicpride

by Icy_March_8166

22 comments

  1. The bbc are going to write an article about this. i know it. they get all their best stories from Reddit. I love this, by the way 😄

  2. An absolutely fantastic chap and, as a fan of old street signs myself, these relics of yesteryear once restored do instil a sense of civic pride, but I can’t help feel that calling him Banksy is a bit of a disservice; since one is twee stencilled satire, the other is guerrilla repair shop.

  3. > “I know people at times rightly have negative things to say about how their council tax is spent. So by doing, instead of moaning, perhaps there will be a few more pennies to address their concerns.

    > Pick up that litter. Give time to that vunerable neighbour. Weed below wall that irritates you. Return that shopping trolley that’s not yours in the street.”

    Words to live by

  7. Good stuff. Did you write the piece? It seems like you wrote the piece. Nice writing.

    There’s an old bloke in my village who trundles a cart around picking up litter, planting grass seed on worn bits of ground and just generally doing wee things to help the place look a bit better.

  8. I have a neighbour who keeps the large grass verge at the tip of the street in perfect condition. Mows it, cuts back the hedgerow, and really seems to enjoy it.

    Another chap gets his petrol trimmer out and cuts back the growth on a small path that gets ignored by the council team.

    Then I’ve got some others who like nothing more than an intellectual moan about “this isn’t right! That is not right!”

    Interesting contrast, and also a guide to which mindset I should choose!

  10. Love this. We usually stop off in Newark on the way up to see family. Will keep an eye out for these next time we go!

  13. I’d like to start something similar in my area. A lot of the vintage signs have the added bonus of peeling paint and graffiti. What’s the best way to learn about how to do this? I presume they have to remove the old paint and use specific products?

  14. As someone who lives here I’ve seen this happening around the town and live it. I’m lucky to live in a town with people that have civic pride.

  16. I hope the signs don’t have any kind of historical designation. I’ve worked on applications to repaint phone boxes and the work only gets approved if the correct techniques and paint are used. This country can be a bit odd about preservation sometimes.

  17. This is such a brilliant example of the “be the change” philosophy in action. While the Banksy nickname is fun, this feels less like art and more like essential maintenance driven by pure love for the town. It’s genuinely inspiring to see someone take that level of initiative to preserve history, and it really does make you want to look for your own small way to contribute. What an absolute legend.

  18. I bet this guy hasn’t carried out any risk assessments, environmental impact surveys, or checked the signs for bat or newt colonies.

    The council needs to stop him asap.

  20. Love the work, love the writing, I do wish that the word “restoration” wasn’t used though. Its likely just me, and a nit-picky thing at that, but in certain circles restoration means a lot more than repainting.

    I grew up with a museum curator and antique furniture restoration expert as a father. Restoration would be removal, neutralization of the rust, repair, and if the original coating could not be brought back a baked enamel coating similar to what was originally on it when new (from what I know of older signs like that.)

    The rejuvenation of the signs shown here will do a huge amount to bring a focus back on them and that will do a world of good to keep them in place and keep local history alive. Its just not an actual restoration.

    Again though, I know I have a skewed viewpoint on what that word means.

  21. Am I the only one who preferred the aged look? It had real character.

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