WE report this week on the surprise uncovering of an almost forgotten part of Winchester's history, out of sight for decades.

Workers from MCS Construction have been preparing the former Debenhams building for conversion into restaurants. Working on the front they uncovered the earlier signage for Sherriff and Ward, the large drapers shop that preceded Debenhams and operated for around a hundred years.

The signage varies from carved wood with gold leaf paint from Victorian times to glass from the early years of the 20th century.

READ MORE HERE: The discovery of the long-lost signs at Debenhams store

It is a fantastic discovery of a business that was at the heart of the city in an era before chain stores owned by remote corporations. The whole High Street would have been filled by locally-owned businesses offering just about every product and services that anyone would need.

Mark Townsend, site manager for MCS Construction, gave the Hampshire Chronicle a guided tour and spoke with enthusiasm about the discovery. He says the signs are to be retained in situ and covered over, not removed and sold, or worse still, thrown into skip. This is a big relief.

Hampshire Chronicle:

They are a splendid piece of Winchester social history and an example that important pieces of the past need not necessarily be huge old buildings made of stone.

It is not open to the public but you can see the signs through the protective netting from the High Street. When the new businesses, Nando's and Five Guys, open, the signs will again be covered over. But the important thing is that they will still be there, waiting perhaps another hundred years. Hopefully whoever uncovers them in the future will treat them with the same care and respect.