Archive for December, 2007
Much Hadham, Herts
Created for the Millenium, the sign shows the River Ash, in whose valley the village lies. Also shown are the church, a ‘tree of life’ (which is based upon a window in the church), a pair of sheep which are kept locally, and a Tudor Rose. Henry VII’s father was born in the village.
More recently, [...]Harpenden, Herts
This sign sits at the edge of the common, at the southern end of the town. It shows the town crest, topped with the county Hart.
Harpenden is probably a bit too large to be properly called a village these days. It’s a sizable commuter town, between Luton and St Albans.
[...]Furneux Pelham, Herts
A poorly maintained sign, the plastic weatherproof coating was badly cracked and in need of replacement whenn I visited. I understand that it was replaced in April 2007. I must try to revisit to get an updated photo!
It’s interesting to note that the village name is actually mispelt on the sign! On the OS map, [...]Datchworth, Herts
The village sign was erected to mark the start of the new millennium in 2000. It was paid for by donations and from fund raising events, and stands on the village green to the west of the cross-roads and near the Datchworth Museum. The original ideas for the design were based on suggestions from the [...]
Codicote, Herts
The motifs shown include the local church, a timbered hostelry which is the oldest documented licensed premises in Hertfordshire; the George and Dragon (now the As You Like It restaurant, across the road from the sign), the coat of arms of John Penne (barber-surgeon to Henry VIII and a local landowner), and a carved dog [...]
Woodford Green, Essex
Not so much a village as a suburb of London these days, the sign depicts various local images: cows grazing on the Green (which was originally part of the great Epping Forest), Sir Winston Churchill – who for many years was the local MP here, plus the stalwarts of many other village signs – a [...]
Thorrington, Essex
The waterwheel shown, on what looks to be a fairly new sign (in 2005), refers to the Tide Mill, built in 1831 on nearby Alresford Creek.
Thorrington Parish Council
Thorrington on Wikipedia
Thorrington, OS Grid Ref: TM 088 203Theydon Bois, Essex
Some nice wrought ironwork scrolling, supporting a simple shield design. The three trees represent Epping Forest, the remains of which lie a short distance to the west of the village. The forest was a favourite haunt of highwaymen in the 18th Century.
One highwayman, Jack Rann, was also known as Sixteen String Jack, and a local [...]Thaxted, Essex
Thaxted is a small country town with a recorded history which dates back to before the Domesday Book. The arms of the town are supported by a wheatsheaf and flowers and two members of the Thaxted Morris. The crossed swords on red appear to be derived from the arms of the Cutlers’ Company of London. [...]
Takeley, Essex
The cross of St George is the obvious motif here. Takeley is very close to Stansted Airport, so there’s possibly an element of ‘Welcome to England” here?
Close to the sign is a large sarsen stone, extremely unusual in Essex and labelled as a glacial erratic, discovered during excavations for the airport expansion. Evidence has been [...]