Potterhanworth Village Sign, Lincolnshire

Here is an interesting two sided village sign on the village green at Potterhanworth, a little village 5 miles from Lincoln.

One side depicts the story of a traveller who lost his way on the wild open heath on a dark winter’s night and who was led to the safety by the sound of the church bell. In gratitude he gave a cottage in trust to the village for the use of the oldest poor man on condition that the occupant rang the church bell at 7pm each evening during winter from Michaelmas to Lady Day to guide other travellers. The cottage was mysteriously burnt down in 1931. In addition to this are depicted the Christ's Hospital Endowment by the 16th century philanthropist, Dr. Richard Smith, who founded Christ’s Hospital, Lincoln, and of goose quills, once a local export to London from the geese kept on the nearby fens.

The other side shows a local rural scene and Salter’s Mill which once stood on Moor Lane in the village.

About Village Sign Caches

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This cache belongs to the Village Sign Series, a series of caches based on ornate signs that depict the heritage, history and culture of the villages that put them up (generally on the village green!). The signs can be made of different materials from fibreglass to wood, from forged steel to stone. They can depict anything from local industry to historical events. The tradition probably started in Norfolk or Suffolk and has now spread across most of the country so we thought we would base a series on them!

More information, bookmarks and statistics can be found at the Village Signs Website

If anybody would like to expand the Village Sign Series, please do.
I would ask that you request a number for your cache first at www.villagesignseries.co.uk
so we can keep track of the Village Sign numbers and names to avoid duplication.