Woodborough Village Sign
Local history research inspired a new village sign, Woodborough resident and History Society member, Mrs Shirley Hoskins, created the original design in February 2002 and this was then translated into art work for a casting, the design was to represent Woodborough's long heritage. The sign was commissioned in 2004 by the Woodborough Community Association.
Mrs Christine Baggaley, Community Association member, negotiated its manufacture. The work was to be undertaken by Signcast at the Sherwood Craft Centre, Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire. Funding was found from the Woodborough Community Association’s award of £1000 from the 2001 Best Kept Village competition, the balance of some £600 being raised through raffles, teas, pig roast, Feast Fair and other activities as well as some money coming from local donations.
The design, which can be clearly seen from the photograph above, includes elements representing a Roman fort (Fox Wood), the church of St Swithun's with its tower, the coat of arms of de Strelley (one time Lord of the Manor), a frame work knitter to show the cottage industry, fields and fruit to indicate a market gardening heritage – all this overlooked by trees of the once mighty Sherwood Forest.
From Shirley's own notes of what the sign should depict we have the following descriptions:
- Trees - Woodborough was at one time part of Sherwood Forest being situated just inside its southern boundary.
- Foxwood Fort - The Romans set up a fortified outpost on a hill one mile north-west of the village; this encampment was possibly a wooden stockade with surrounding mounds and ditches. There are still traces of it today, the site is currently [2005/6] being investigated by a formal 'dig' and is a Department of the Environment protected site.
- Church - Originally possibly a Saxon wooden building replaced by a stone church in Norman times, of which only the font and north doorway still remain. The Chancel was built in the 14th century by Sir Richard de Strelley.
- Strelley Coat of Arms - The de Strelleys were Lords of the Manor from the 14th century to the end of the Civil War and inherited by marriage from the Norman, Ralf de Wodeburg. The Strelley coat of arms are carved in stone above the east window of the Church.
- Frame Knitting - Frame work knitting was the main occupation of the villagers following the invention of the stocking frame by a local vicar Rev. William Lee in the 16th century. At the height of the industry there were approximately 200 frames in the village.
- Tractor - As the frame knitting industry declined and ultimately ceased in the early 20th century, stockingers began to earn a living from market-gardening, farming the fertile soil in the Woodborough valley.
The sign, which is 24 inches high and mounted on a 9 foot post, is sited in the Governors’ Field alongside Main Street and was unveiled on 16th October 2004 by the Cllr. Arthur Woodward, Mayor of Gedling, in the presence of members from Woodborough Parish Council, Woodborough Community Association and many villagers.
Acknowledgements:
- Research by Les Law, with additional material from Shirley Hoskins
- Woodborough Local History Society members
- Photographs by John Hoyland.
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