For most of its history, Herringswell has been owned as a part of an estate. Most of the houses have now been restored and in residential use.
In 2005 Herringswell (and near villages) came under threat from a developer who wanted to build a new town of some 6,000 dwellings plus an industrial park, rock arena etc on 600 acres which would have completely destroyed the beautiful rural nature of Herringswell and its surroundings. The residents, supported by many local villages and people, managed to put a stop to the scheme after 2 years of hard work and campaigning.
Herringswell Manor is a large mock Tudor house built as a private home in 1901 on the previous site of the Manor. In 1981 the Manor and 14 acres was bought by members of the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh sect and up to 200 'orange people' as they were known due to their coloured robes, lived in the commune These new residents raised the population requiring, for the first time, the establishment of a Parish Council . The Baghwan died and the commune was wound up in 1985. The house was bought by the Shi Tennoji school, a Japanese Buddhist boarding school and was closed in 2001 because of falling numbers.
Lets hope the puzzle isn't a red herring!
If anybody would like to expand this series please do. I would just ask that you let Smokeypugs know first so they can keep track of the Village Sign numbers and names to avoid duplication.