General Features

Save the HP sign.

Roy Griffiths
perhaps place it in the science museum

Philip Rogers
Well done WM for saving the sign!!As a born and bred in Aston type of guy who remembers both Ansells and HP brewing up on the same days and creating an incredibly addictive odour in the atmosphere, I say provision should be made to erect the sign as close to the original siting atop of the new technology park and even insist the park is named the HP Park.Well done WM for saving the sign!!

Ian Brothwell
Put the sign back up on the factory site when it has been developed. Here in Nottingham, a capstone from the old Home Ales Brewery is on display, together with anoticeboard showing its history, near the supermarket whch replaced the brewery. A large wall clock from the demolished Player's factory is likewise now a feature of the retail park that replaced the factory.Regards, Ian.

Andy Mabbett
The sign - complete with red and blue background - should be placed on the wall of the Aston Expressway, as near to the factory site as possible, but where it can be viewed, by pedestrians, from a bridge.

Barbara and Peter
We think the sign should be incorporated into the entrance to the new development, which should be named "HP Technology Park".

claire
can i please have the sign?

susie N
I have lived near to HP all my life and am devastated that jobs are being lost to other countries. I will miss seeing the sign!!!

Made in Birmingham
Great idea saving the sign but Birmingham needs an INDUSTRIAL MUSEUM to house this and other industrial artifacts hidden from view--support our campaign for a Birmingham Industrial Museum atwww.madeinbirmingham.org

Wendy Skorupa
My mother told me that she was taken on to the roof of the H.P. building the day that the first world war ended.

ALAN FLYNN
I WORKED AT HP SAUCE FOR TWENTY TWO YEARS.IT IS ONLY RIGHT THE SIGN STAYS FOR FUTHER GENERATIONS TO SEE. IT IS ASHAME HEINZ COULD NOT SEE THIS.

IAN PAYNE
Never knew the building was going to be demolished - intyeresting and sad !!!!Put a FOR SALE sign on UK PLC !!!!

Roy Hughes
Great campaign to save the sign, Well done, but....Please stop using the word "Iconic" when what you really mean is "landmark". This is a spreading trend throughout the media today.

Rekha Shinde Tanpure
I left Birmingham 20 years ago and passed the HP Factory many times. It is sign I still remember and am very happy that atleast the HP sign has been saved.

Eric Cook
I was born in Aston (Queens Road)in 1930 and one of my earliest memories was the lovely aromas from both Ansells Brewery and HP Sauce. Ah1 Happy days

maggie
the factory should never have been closed down in the first place and that way we could have looked at the sign any time we passed the factory, another good british product gone abroad,

Paul
I wish that it was the whole factory that was being saved,though I know that everything possible was done to save the plant. No way on earth would I ever buy any Heinz product again, I hope at least that a home can be found for the sign where it can be seen easily.

Lisa Taylor
I used to work in Witton and would drive on the M6 and leave at jct 6 and onto the Aston Expressway, I always like seeing the HP sign, just as the Dunlop sign. It's part of Birmingham and I am glad it is being retained.

Milan Hawkins
My grandfather worked at the HP Sauce factory in the early seventies, so I find it particularly sad that it's being demolished.

Alan Mason
Suggest putting it up high, on either end wall of the the Think Tank Science Museum, at Millenium Piont - thats where Birminghams Heritage is housed.

Val Burbridge
Very pleased that you have saved the sign. I feel that as an Icon sign that was such a prominent feature of the Birmingham skyline, that it should be displayed in a similar manner and not hidden away in a museum.Maybe Urban Splash, who have saved some of our iconic buildings, might have some ideas. Kindest regards - love WM.

Carl Jukes
Drove past the sign everday on my way to work for the last 17 years. Glad to see it saved. How about putting it up on one of the stands at Aston Villa. Im a Baggies fan but think it may look good on there as it will stay in Aston.

wendy jordan
save the sign its a great shame the site is being demolished ill miss the place a lot always saw it on my way to the villa save the sign! i will not buy any heinz products now

Bryn Davies
I definetely think it should be kept; I mean, why not? And HP sauce is lovely...

elliot hicks
it must be saved its part of birmingham history.we have already lost so much

lee mallin
SAVE OUR SIGN !!!

Jen Davis
Save the sign!

gary rayment
I believe that the sign should go, why hang on to reminders of things that we no longer have, if we held on to every thing we would have no room left for what is to come. We have lost so many great businesses from Birmingham over the decades. Sad it may be, but we shouldn't put so much effort into telling the world what we once did. We should focus our efforts into shouting our message from the roof tops, about how good we are, and what we have to offer now.

paul hazel
too much of our history and culture is just bulldozed or built on, make a stand and make it now!!!

Richard Johnson
It was a real shame that the HP factory had to close but unfortunately it joins a long list of other industries that we've lost. But its important to keep items such as the HP sign because they are part of our proud industrial heritage. We must keep it!

teresa ryan
you know your home when you see the sign. i worked there for 10 years, loved every minute of it.

Karen Goldstone
My first job in 1964 was near the HP factory. I had to walk down the road between it and Ansells brewery on the other side of the road. The smell from both of these was pretty distinctive!!!!!!!! I can still smell it! Please do all you can to keep this sign

Royston Price
I am nearly 63years old and I live in west wales I Worked near Aston cross in the 1960s when I was 15 years old please do not destroy the H P tower/sign

Simon Jesson
Whilst the building is going, I would like to see the name retained. Perhaps in the future development, or retain some of the existing structure.....

Martyn Bluck
I used to go to college in Aston when I was 17/18. You'd always smell Brown Sauce on a Winter's day. The tower is part of Birmingham's heritage, and should stay.

David Clarke
As a Midlander now living in Essex I believe the sign must be saved, in years gone by, I have many fond memories, of passing the sauce works whilst on the bus from the City Centre on the way to Villa Park.

Nicki Russell
When your driving back into to birmingham, thats the first thing I see is the sign and I know I am near home...

Kate Lancashire
I've only lived in Birmingham for 3 years, but have come to see the sign as iconic of Birmingham.. a sign that when we've left the motorway, he were are in this great city.I loathe the destruction of industry in this country that's happened over the years and this is just another nail in industry's coffin. Let the sign stay so we can at least remember the industrial power England once was.

Keith Mason
Save it and put it in the Millennium Point Science Museum

Paul Burman
I believe that the answer lies with the developers and the council. I undestand that the site is to become a science and technology park. What better way to celebrate the history of the site than to name it the "HP science and technology park". And what about the idea of an iconic tower building on the park, topped with the famous sign? Birmingham would then maintain the landmark sign that it has enjoyed for so many years, but is a modern environment

Bob Shale
What a good idea.I used to deliver Heinz products from their warehouses for about ten years but now I will never have any Heinz stuff in my house again.

John
Keep the landmark sign and why not also find someway of producing that famous sauce smell that always seemed to be in the air as you passed the factory

Paul KIng
We must save Birmingham's heritage for future generations to appreciate their roots.

Malcolm Coghill
Whats the point of keeping the sign ? I used to cycle to work through Aston, past TI Tubes, Ansells Brewery (both long gone) and the HP Sauce factory. The HP sign would just be a bitter reminder of all this city has lost.

Mick Sutcliffe
Demolishing the HP Tower will be yet another part of Birmingham`s history gone for ever

Ken Flynn
worked at HP for 37 years as a Lorry Driver. the sign should be saved because even though the jobs at HP could not be saved, we must not let them take everything.

John Leigh Norris
Over the years we have lost many of our landmarks, so it is about time we started to save them.

lisa bird
please keep it!

marie
I used to pass that sign every day and it will be sad not to see it anymore, I think it should be kept.

Racheal
I'm 18 years old and have lived in Aston all my life, this is always a building that i look at becaause its an achievment for Aston and the West Midlands. Please keep the building so my children may look on it one day!

leanne
save the sign

barbara Lewis
if we can't have the bottle then lets keep the sign

Raynah Thomas
The sign should certainly be saved as a symbol of Birmingham's history. It saddens me that the factory is going, but we should still celebrate the past.

laraine
pass the factory every day on the 65 bus on my to work. doesnt seem right that it will soon be gone.

Steve & Hazel Cole
Ex PatsLiving in Southampton for 17 years save the sighn & our heritage

daniel fraser
iconic

K. Oneill
I’m a Brummie. Living in Brazil. Sad times again for the people of Birmingham. Sad also because I just started getting HP in my supermarkets in Sao Paulo.My daughter loves me buying a bottle, Made in Aston, Birmingham, England. Don’t have the heart to tell different Without land marks, things get very quickly forgotten. Birmingham Keep our hard working people’s history.

David Langley - Virginia, USA
After living in the USA for the past 9 years I have to say that I truly miss the smell of HP sauce wafting through the air at 7.30 in the morning while driving to work. originally from Pype Hayes but now 5,000 miles away, I am deeply saddened to hear of all these changes to Brum. Like one person already mentioned, seeing the HP sign was one of the landmarks that welcomed you home after a long trip. Changing things for future survival is important but so is remembering the past. Please save the sign and help to remember the past!

Arthur
What happened to the Pebble Mill sign when that was being bulldozed :(

Brian Heath
If the sign is kept it may remind us to no longer buy the product!

Maz
I did a factory visit in the 1960's I have never been to such a clean, friendly place. What a great shame it has gone...keep the sign put it on a traffic island somewhere!!!!

Carole
I have very great memories of working at HP with my Dad and my sister. My sister met her husband Mick at HP because he helped build the Tower in 1967. I worked with some lovely people. the end of an era.

Oli Ward
Simply an awesome landmark - sorry to see it go! SAVE OUR SIGN!!

P.FREEMAN
IT'S TRADITION

Matthew Breen
Keep it!!!

Vivien Hill
Maybe we could have a cenotaph with all of the names, and a department in the city museum for much loved and now lost local west midland businesses,

Steve Fox
Save the sign for posterity

Deborah Monk
My Dad worked for the H.P Sauce for over 30 years as a lorry driver. He would have been really sad to see the job losses and the end of this factory. At least let us keep some memories, by being able to keep the sign. My last 'Aston' bottle is on the dresser. I certainly won't be buying any more from Europe!!!

Tony Beaman
Save it. It'll be replaced by boring stunning modern luxury apartments to serve the undercatered for luxury apartment population in Birmingham.

Tracey Queely
The sign should be saved, everything always seems to be moved elsewhere to our detriment. As for the factory being 'unviable' perhaps the Americans should have thought about that before they bought it!!

Davinder Dhillon
It will be nice to keep the sign. With so many industries closing, we are losing the hertitage of the industries that once was in Birmingham. It would be good to keep these so younger generations will know what we once had and have lost.

gwen Sanders
I have boycotted buying Heinz products, and think its terrible that so many of our businesses have been bought up and sold in the area. I am quite upset as I used to see this sign every morning going to workGood work Phil, and hope we can save it.

Phil Hurst
Save our sign!!

Teresa Richards-Crosbie
HP I thought meant "Houses of Parliament" and that the sauce was originally made for HofP. Doesn't this make it part of our history and heritage. Its nice to see so many new buildings going up in Birmingham but its sad at the same time to see local/famous landmarks disappearing.

Hilary Twinberrow
I have happy memories of working close to HP in the 1960's & feel that the sign signifies Birmingham's past prosperity.

Peter Spencer
I am an ex Brummie living in Albury NSW Australia and still love my HP sauce even though the formula changed in the 80's. Sorry to see the factory go.

Mac Joseph
Keep the sign and help save our heritage while we still have some!

Stephen Potts
from Walsall live in Torontoplease keep these remindersof our past somewhere-heritage is important

Richard McLean
Getting rid of the sign would be getting rid of an important national landmark. It should be protected.

Mike Hunt
This is the sign that says "You're Home" when travelling from the North. It has to stay. And while were at it, let's get our gorilla back too!

lesley simons
Keep up the good work phill as children of the future will know that Birmingham was once an industrial place and employed many people, who's lives will never be the same.If if has n't got a home what about in the science park at aston?

laraine harris
Im Aston born n bred the sign means alot to the people of Aston & all of Birmingham as it is part of our history & Birmingham Stories we all have. Please don't get rid of it.

sally sidwell
not really bothered about the sign. not much to say really.

Linda Bartlett
My grandmother and aunt worked at HP sauce factory i want the sign to be kept as part of Birmingham industrial History and especially Aston History has so much of Aston as been lost due to re development.

mellissa jones
keep the sign, for allus brummies and are kids to see.

Lou Randall
Save The Sign! It's part of our history!

Michelle Coeulle
I was involved in providing Redundancy advice to staff before they left and had a tour of the HP site. There are still some underground tunnels, that were used in days gone by. I think HP is part of our National Heritage and we should engage with the museums of birmingham to set up an exhibition to commemorate the History of HP.

robert brown
People will forget how much of a role birmingham had with industrial modernity

Robert Wood
It is great to see the HP sign when you are on Spaghetti Junction/Aston ExpressWay driving into the city...it is iconic & makes me feel that I am home! Please leave the sign on a tower...like a lighthouse...for all to see!!!

VERA BENNETT
HI I AM A BRUMMIE LIVING IN DEVON AND I SAY SAVE THE SIGN !

Helen Faulkes
We used to be "City of a Thousand Trades" Lets keep the sign as a symbol of what we used to be.

Polin Aktar
This is really upsetting. They just can’t knock down part of history just like that.

Deborah Jayne Hartley
I loved the smell of the sauce when driving into the city brings back memories of the 80's

Sue Hughes
I think the sign should be preserved as part of our heritage and it should be kept as close as possible to Aston Cross.