A difficult sign to photograph, bounded by high bushes during my visit!

Charles Dickens is thought to have based the opening of “Great Expectations” in the local churchyard here. 13 small graves there, known as “Pip’s Graves” relate to the graves Pip’s brother is visiting when he has his terrifying encounter with the escaped convict Magwitch. Hence the Dickens reference on the sign.

The most notable feature of the village is Cooling Castle, built on the edge of the marshes during the 12th century to defend the neighbouring port of Cliffe from the threat of French raiders.

Cooling: Wikipedia entry
Dickens’ Great Expectations summary

Cooling, OS Grid Ref: TQ 757 759