Historic sign to be reinstated at Tynecastle Park
12 September 2024
As part of the Maroon Mile Project and the club’s sesquicentennial celebrations, Heart of Midlothian Football Club and the Foundation of Hearts are delighted to announce the reinstatement of the historic Tynecastle Park sign at the Gorgie Road entrance.
Over the next two weeks, a traditional sign writer will work on recreating the sign from archival material held in the HMFC Museum. The sign will be painted by Thomas Payne, a traditional sign writer and glass gilder from East Lothian, supported by a highly skilled team.
Head of the Heritage Department at HMFC, Lianne Parry said:
"I am thrilled to see this cherished traditional sign replicated on the Gorgie Stand as part of the Maroon Mile Project. This is a wonderful nod to our club's rich history and a testament to our commitment to preserving and celebrating it.
"I am eagerly anticipating Phase 2 of the project, which will see the re-opening of the Museum entrance at Tynecastle Terrace. This final step will beautifully complete the mile-long heritage trail, culminating at our beloved Museum. It’s an exciting time for all Hearts supporters as we continue to honour our legacy through the 150th anniversary year."
The work to the sign has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Maroon Mile Project. The Maroon Mile is a community led heritage project which aims to highlight, capture and share the history of this diversely rich and vibrant working-class area and explore the role the club has played in the lives of multiple generations.
A firm fan favourite for many years, the hand painted sign was a symbol for many that they had arrived at the stadium. Although undergoing design and font changes over the year, the sign is still lovingly talked about by many fans today, with its absence above the large museum gates on Tynecastle Terrace being noted.
The sign was installed in 1928, where it stood for over 60 years before being taken down in 1994 as part of the ground redevelopment. The whereabouts of the original sign is unknown as it went missing shortly after the redevelopment to the grounds were completed.
As part of the wider Maroon Mile Project, the Heritage Team have been working hard to collect Oral Histories from a variety of people to create an archive for future generations. As part of this project, you can listen to Graeme Easton talk about his memories of the sign here.
