{{short description|Term in England for a sign at the entrance to a town or village}} {{distinguish|village sign language}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} [[File:Biddenden Maids Village Green - geograph.org.uk - 221908.jpg|thumb|right|Biddenden village sign in Kent of the two maids of Biddenden]] [[File:Old Hunstanton Village Sign.jpg|thumb|Old Hunstanton village sign in Norfolk]]
In many parts of England, an ornamental '''village sign''' is erected to announce the village name to those entering the village. They are typically placed on the principal road entrance or in a prominent location such as a village green. The design often depicts a particularly characteristic feature of the village or a scene from its history, heritage, or culture. They are typically made of wood or metal or a combination of both, the designs are often made by the local community.
Ornamental timber and iron signs were common historically to identify buildings of importance such as inns or town halls. However, the tradition of village signs is believed to have started in Norfolk early in the 20th century when Edward VII suggested that village signs would aid motorists and give a feature of interest on the Sandringham Estate.
The spread of interest beyond Norfolk can be attributed to Prince Albert, Duke of York (later George VI) who gave a speech to the Royal Academy in 1920 promoting the wider use of village signs. This prompted the ''Daily Mail'' to run a nationwide village sign competition.<ref>''The Builder'' magazine, 7 May 1920, p 542</ref> The prize fund exceeded £2,000 and ten awards were made. The winning schemes were exhibited at Australia House, London in October 1920.<ref>''The Builder'', 22 October 1920, p 455</ref>
The village sign at Biddenden, Kent, featuring the two Biddenden Maids, was one of the successful ''Daily Mail'' competition entries. So too was the sign at Bromley, Kent.
Many signs commemorate significant events such as the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the passing of Millennium or local celebrations such as the centenary of the formation of local councils.
In some places village signs have been surveyed and recorded. In Kent, signs erected in more than half of the county villages have been identified.<ref>Alan Bignell Books, Kent Village Signs (Book 1 and Book2), {{ISBN|978-0-9542950-4-2}}</ref>
In 1929, Harry Carter, an art and woodwork master at Hamond's Grammar School in Swaffham, carved a sign for his home town. By the time of his death in 1983 he had carved over 200 town and village signs.
While the practice is now widespread, decorative village signs are still common in Norfolk and in the neighbouring county of Suffolk as well as Essex and other East Anglian counties. Some village signs take the form of sculptures, such as the sign at Capel St Andrew in Suffolk, which is constructed from scrap metal.
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Sandling village sign - geograph.org.uk - 101692.jpg|Sandling, Kent <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/101692|title = Geograph:: Sandling village sign © Penny Mayes cc-by-sa/2.0}}</ref> File:Beeston Regis village sign.jpg|Beeston Regis, Norfolk<ref name=osexp252>Ordnance Survey (2002). ''OS Explorer Map 252 - Norfolk Coast East''. {{ISBN|0-319-21888-0}}.</ref> File:Weybourne Village sign.jpg|Weybourne, Norfolk<ref name="osexp252"/> File:East Runton village sign.jpg|East Runton, Norfolk<ref name="osexp252"/> File:High Kelling 22nd October 2007 (1).JPG|High Kelling, Norfolk<ref name="osexp252"/> File:Northrepps Village Sign 23rd Oct 2007.JPG|Northrepps, Norfolk<ref name="osexp252"/> File:Overstrand Village Sign 23rd Oct 2007 (2).JPG|Overstrand, Norfolk<ref name="osexp252"/> File:Gresham Village Sign 25th October 2007.JPG|Gresham, Norfolk File:Felbrigg Village Sign 25th Oct 2007 (2).JPG|Felbrigg, Norfolk File:West Beckham Village Sign.JPG|West Beckham, Norfolk File:Hempstead Village Sign October 25th 2007 (1).JPG|Hempstead, Norfolk File:Spratton Village sign (3).JPG|Spratton in Northamptonshire File:Horsham St Faiths Village Sign 2nd November 2007 (1).JPG|Horsham St Faith, Norfolk File:Gayton Village Sign.png|Gayton, West Norfolk File:Gimingham Village Sign 10 Nov 2007 (3).JPG|Gimingham, Norfolk File:Sustead Village sign 10 Nov 2007.JPG|Sustead, Norfolk File:Trunch Village sign 10 Nov 2007 (2).JPG|Trunch, Norfolk File:Sprowstonsign.JPG|Sprowston, Norfolk File:Corton village sign.jpg|Corton, Suffolk File:Little Bentley TM1125 263.jpg|Little Bentley, Essex File:Sanderstead TQ3461 293.jpg|Sanderstead, Croydon File:Leaves Green 008.jpg|Leaves Green, Bromley File:Lower Southrepps Village sign 1st September 2008 (9).JPG|Lower Southrepps, Norfolk File:Backwell-stone.jpg|Backwell village sign in Somerset File:Wymondham Town Sign.jpg|Wymondham, South Norfolk </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.villagesignsociety.org.uk/ Village Sign Society] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051030104713/http://www.norfolkcoast.co.uk/signs/ Village signs on NorfolkCoast.co.uk] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050903105809/http://www.norfolk-villagesigns.co.uk/ Norfolk Village Signs] *[https://www.suffolkvillagesigns.co.uk/ Suffolk Village Signs] *[https://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Kent-Village-Signs Geograph article and photo-record of the Village Signs in Kent] *[http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/UEL/BR018.htm]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{Commons|Village sign}} {{Commons category|Village signs in England}} {{Commons category|Signs of municipalities}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Village Sign}} Category:Culture of England Category:Street furniture Category:History of Norfolk