The Village Sign

The Village Sign is located prominently at the traditional centre of the village at the junction of High Street with Turner Lane. It was built in 1998; as the Parish Council wanted something with which to commemorate the millennium and also to replicate other such signs in many other villages of similar age and style all around the UK.

When it was constructed, a time capsule was placed within the base of the sign and this contains many items that should come to be classed as artifacts when it is eventually removed and opened. The items include local newspapers (copies of the Rotherham Advertiser and the Sheffield Star); as well as six metal plaques that were engraved with appropriate messages marking the occasion.

Village Sign

The sign in total is approximately 10ft tall. It is made up of a large, ornate, metal crest that sits atop a thick, squared-off timber pole. This is built into a, roughly, 5ft tall column of stone that is itself constructed on a circular stone base. Finally, flowerbeds were installed around the base of the sign to cover the remainder of the triangular-shaped plot; and these made for a beautiful and photogenic sight, particularly in Spring and Summer over the course of the next 20 years. However, in summer 2020 the Parish Council did away with these flowerbeds and replaced them with paving; with the long-term intention being to create a seating area at the heart of the village.

Nevertheless, what has remained unchanged are the four scenes on the crest itself; consisting of:

  • [Top]   Whiston Parish Church with Lychgate and stocks
  • [Bottom Left]   Whiston Methodist Church
  • [Bottom Centre]   Whiston Manorial Barn
  • [Bottom Right]   The Golden Ball Inn (the oldest pub in Whiston)

  • Together with the word ‘Whiston’ emblazoned across the middle. Between them they depict traditional life in the village. A finishing touch is the White Rose of Yorkshire placed at the very top and centre of the sign.

     

    Top row [left] generic photo of the village sign

    [middle]circa summer 2011photo of the village sign showing the previous arrangement of flowers and flowerbeds at its base.

    [right] undated pencil drawing of the sign; held in the Socitey's archived material.

     

    Bottom row [left] 7th November 2020 A foggy evening in Whiston, the sign (amongst other sites around the village) is decorated with a large poppy to commemorate remembrance day.

    [right] The village sign on a snow day! early January 2021

Village Sign closeup WhistonSignDrawing Sign Remembrance Poppy Sign in Winter