Northamptonshire - Village Sign Society - Signmakers show wide range of skills and style
This issue we're looking at signmakers in Northamptonshire, a county with a rich and fascinating heritage.
Many villages have bespoke signs that are potent reminders of local history and culture. Working to promote the importance of village signs and preserve their valuable heritage is the Village Sign Society.
The Society is run by volunteers and was founded in 1999 by Maureen Long and Shirley Addy, co-producers of the popular series of books Suffolk Signs.
Maureen Long is in no doubt about the importance of village signs, saying: "They record village events and local history which might otherwise be lost, as well as fostering a community spirit in an age of increasing uniformity. They also represent continuity."
The society receives an increasing number of enquiries, 100 in the last 12 months, from groups across the country interested in commissioning traditional signage for their area. For many people producing village signs it is little more than a hobby, but several sign businesses also produce bespoke village signs.
One company the Village Sign Society can put groups in touch with is Rock Artisan Foundry, based near Towcester, in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside.
For more information on the Village Sign Society, visit their website at www.villagesignsociety.org.uk for more details
To read the article on Rock Artisan Foundry click here.