Overstrand Village and Parish Council

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The Village Sign

Colourful, carved wooden village signs are a distinct feature of the East Anglian landscape and Overstrand is no exception.

Our present sign, commissioned by the Parish Council, was designed by the children from the Belfry School and depicts St Martin's Church, Overstrand beach, a fishing boat plus a poppy, a crab and the WI logo.

The sign was made by Bob Sterry and Peter Metcalfe and unveiled in a ceremony on the 29th March 1993.

This sign replaced an older oak sign made by the famous Norfolk wood carver Harry Carter of Swaffham and presented to the parish on 6th July 1977. If not the last, it was certainly one of the last he ever made but unfortunately and most uncharacteristically, the sign deteriorated.

The whereabouts of the remaining parts of the old sign are unknown but thanks to local resident Ray Green we have some colour photographs for posterity in the Village Photo Galleries section.

The base and plinth was made by John Worthington of Overstrand and the total cost was raised by the Overstrand WI.

The sign depicted the Crab, Roger de Reymes and Black Shuck with a Saxon and Dane on the one side, with a Poppy, Fishermen and Beck Hythe rescuing a sailor on the other.