Object Details

Village sign

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Location
Makers
General Information
Classification
Object Parts
Object Condition
History
References
Photographs


Author: Anthony McIntosh
Copyright for Photograph:

Creative Commons

Location

Street:The Tye
Town:Alfriston
Parish:Alfriston
Council:Wealden District Council
County:East Sussex
Postcode:BN26
Location on Google Map
Object setting:Road or Wayside
Access is:Public
Location note:Next to the path leading to St. Andrews Church
In the AZ book:East Sussex
Page:151
Grid reference:M1
The A-Z books used are A-Z East Sussex and A-Z West Sussex (Editions 1A 2005). Geographers' A-Z Map Company Ltd. Sevenoaks.

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Makers

Name : Frank Fox-Wilson
     Role:Carver
Name : Penelope Ellis
Company/Group :Brendan Devitt-Spooner, Wood Design, Angmering
     Role:Designer

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General Information

Commissioned by: Alfriston Millennium Committee
Construction period:December 1999 - May 2000
Installation date:01/05/2000
Unveiling date:01/05/2000
Work is:Extant
Owner custodian:Alfriston Parish Council
Object listing:Not listed
Description:A village sign on a tall oak post, set on a green in the centre of the village. The carved wooden sign has two different sides, each carved with a range of symbolic and other references to the history of the town.
Iconographical description:'The idea of a village sign is to illustrate prominent features of the village's history and buildings in a unified and colourful collage. On the Alfriston sign, one side depicts the area around the Tye, the other side focuses more on the village centre. A noticeably different style of carving and choice of colours for each side helps to portray these different locations and 'moods'. Depicted on the sign are: St. Andrew's Church; glovemaking; White Bridge; ropemaking; The Clergy House; Cuckmere River; bell-ringing; St. Andrew's Shield; smugglers; shop fronts; The Star Lion; the Chestnut Tree; the Market Cross; a soldier; the Car Park Tower; Sussex martlets and Alfriston School. (Village sign information leaflet)

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Classification

Categories:Sculptural, Roadside / Wayside, Free Standing, Functional, Commemorative
Object type1:Marker
     Object subtype1:Post
Object type2:Street furniture
     Object subtype1:Post
Subject type1:Pictorial
     Subject subtype1:Group
Subject type2:Figurative
Subject type3:Symbolic

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Object Parts

Part 1:Post
     Material:English oak
     Height (cm):335
Part 2:Sign
     Material:Cedar wood
     Height (cm):75
     Width (cm):75
     Depth (cm):10

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Object Condition

Overall condition:Good
Risk assessment:No known risk

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History

History:The suggestion of a village sign was accepted by a meeting of parishioners as a project for the Millennium year in the Spring of 1999. It was unveiled on May Day 2000 by Lord Healey during the village Millennium celebrations. It was sited on The Tye as it is an important focal point of the village. The designer, Penelope Ellis and wood carver, Frank Fox-Wilson carried out between them some 300 hours work on the sign. Fox-Wilson is the Rector of the Cuckmere Valley Churches. A prototype of one side was first made from old timber to test the logistics of the carving of the design. The actual sign was constructed in cedar 4'' x 10'' blocks. Cedar was chosen for its resistance to weather wear. The carved sign was coated with acrylic primer, standard undercoat and gloss and finished in signwriter's enamels. Work took five months to complete and the materials costs were £500. All local contributors gave their time free of charge.
'The idea of a village sign is to illustrate prominent features of the village's history and buildings in a unified and colourful collage. On the Alfriston sign, one side depicts the area around the Tye, the other side focuses more on the village centre. A noticeably different style of carving and choice of colours for each side helps to portray these different locations and 'moods'. Depicted on the sign are: St. Andrew's Church; glovemaking; White Bridge; ropemaking; The Clergy House; Cuckmere River; bell-ringing; St. Andrew's Shield; smugglers; shop fronts; The Star Lion; the Chestnut Tree; the Market Cross; a soldier; the Car Park Tower; Sussex martlets and Alfriston School.
(Village sign information leaflet)

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References


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Photographs





Author: Anthony McIntosh
Copyright: Creative Commons




Author: Anthony McIntosh
Copyright: Creative Commons




Author: Anthony McIntosh
Copyright: Creative Commons




Author: Anthony McIntosh
Copyright: Creative Commons

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