Ghost signs in Rochester Row

A friend asked me if I'd noticed a ghost sign at the western end of Rochecter Row, high up on the sidge of Foxtons. Here are two snaps from Google's streetview: 

Here's a pic I took of it back in November 2008 when the letters were less faded:

The sign advertises oil colours, soap warehouse, paraffin oil & lamps. The name at the top appears to begin with W, possibly followed by IN. 

Having just had a quick peek into a couple of the old directories, this appears to be a directional sign for a shop round the corner at 172 Vauxhall Bridge Road which, in the late 1890s, is shown as George Langabeer, oilman. Then, by 1910 through to at least 1915, William Price is the listed owner, also as oilman, and I think it's his painted sign that we still see today. By the 1930s the shop had been demolished and replaced by a Westminster Bank faced in Portland stone, still evident today but converted into The Jugged Hare public house.

Seeing as we are Rochester Row for this post, I might as well assess another faded sign here, one that has been scratched away but is still discernible in the right kind of light... 

A the junction of Vane Street there is a hotel (again, I'm using Google snaps because I cannot now find the pics I took earlier this year!):

At the corner there is a short of shield containing hints of letterform and, with a bit of patience, the following can be seen: Empire Hospital For Paying Patients. Ooh how jolly intriguing. 

Vane Street leads to Vincent Square. Here's the view from there clearly showing juliet balconies that would have afforded those paying patients a lovely view and lots of fresh air:

The hospital's address was 69 Vincent Square, yet today The Wellington/Rochester Hotel (eh? go Google) is given as 69 Vane Street which is also strange being as it's such a short street. Perhaps they've done that to make that side door easier to find. 

I have found some info about the hospital here showing it was a nursing home rather than a hospital. It was a place where rich WW1 officers could pay for their rehabilitation and recuperation at the rate of £10 per week which equates to about £1,000/pw today! 

The facility was short-lived and by 1919 had closed its doors to paying patients, but was soon to reopen for paying customers of a different kind.