Saturday 14 June 2014

A Sense Of Place

One of the attractive features of many an East Anglian village is the village sign. Small towns often have them too. They usually depict scenes from the settlement's past or present, usually carved from wood and painted, but sometimes made of iron by a local craftsman. Some follow a pattern while others are unique. Most of them stand centrally within their community while others are seen as one approaches the village.


A few places have had signs for many years but the majority have sprung up in the last couple of decades. How long before I find a guide book referring to "this ancient custom"?

Take care.



12 comments:

  1. That's a great collection, John. I love these signs when you come across them - some of them are beautiful and they all tell a story. Reckon you should start that book - and perhaps tie-in the origins/meanings of the place names too?

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  2. I love these John - a subject for a book as you say - rather like the one on inn signs.

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  3. That would be a really good idea John. I often wonder the stories behind the signs.

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  4. This is quite the collection of signs....& such intricate & colorful signs with it seems a story to tell. Thanks for sharing this custom, one I had not heard about.

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  5. What a fine collection. I haven't noticed so many up here, but it's a lovely trend.

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  6. These are great. I'm drawn to the Ten Mile Bank one more for it could pass for being in one of our Great Plains states.

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  7. so colorful --each a compact statement about the history or personality or the town.

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  8. A good outlet for creative people to share their work with their community. Quite a range of styles and images. We have the same trend around here with the signs usually visible at the entrance to the village or town.

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  9. That's a very interesting collection of signs you've got.

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  10. Each sign looks unique. Nice to looks at them!

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  11. Ten Mile Bank wins it for me John :)

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  12. These would be fun to collect as one travels. I like the two Mordens, Steeple and Guilden. They look like they tell the story of the towns' pasts.

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