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North Stifford
Village
Sign
2011
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In 2008 the North Stifford Village Community Group
discussed the possibility of installing a Village
Sign, but due to lack of funds etc. the idea was put
on the back boiler until it was resurrected mid way
through 2010.
A village sign sub-committee was formed comprising
Cliff Cowin and Maureen Nicholas to take the project
forward.
Research was done and quotations for the work
involved were obtained. Planning permission was
granted, and then the fundraising began.
With our normal village fundraising activities it
would have taken possibly 4 to 5 years to raise
sufficient money, so applications for funding were
made to various organisations.
The Community Group were delighted when a cheque for
£500 was received from the National Grid. This was
followed by another £500 donation from the Grays
Public Purposes and Recreational Charity, and we
then received a pledge of £3,500 from
Veolia Mardyke
Trust. These wonderfully generous contributions plus
other kind donations from villagers enabled us to go
ahead and have the Village Sign made.
Here follows a picture progress of steps on the road
to the unveiling ceremony which took place on the
1st July 2011.
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This metre long
metal base was set in concrete to securely
hold the metal post and frame |
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Laying the paving feature and
Mo planting
flower barrels |
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Work in progress
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Jane Swift |
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The finished
paintings |
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The Signmaker
Eurographics
31 High Street,
Aveley, Essex
www.euro-graphics.net |
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Printing the
picture signs |
Craig Surry -
Laminating pictures |
The Blacksmith
A. D. Theobald & Son
Artistry in Ironwork
Motts Forge, Muckingford Road, Linford,
Stanford-le-Hope, Essex.
Telephone: 01375 851122
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Choosing old lamp post
Battlesbridge
Antiques
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The lamp post was
sandblasted and repainted
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Blacksmith
starts work
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David Theobald
making scrolls |
Nearly done |
Installing on
Village Green |
Unveiling cerenomy
The sign was unveiled by
Thurrock M.P. Jackie
Doyle-Price on 1st July, 2011. She was assisted by
Jane Swift, the artist who was commissioned to
produce the paintings for the sign.
Other local dignitaries, councillors and
representatives from the organisations who
generously donated funds joined villagers at the
ceremony on the village green, and then went on to
enjoy an evening of fun and entertainment at the
annual village barbeque evening which had been
arranged to follow and celebrate the unveiling
ceremony.
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Thurrock M.P. Jackie
Doyle-Price
assisted by Jane
Swift. |
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Thurrock M.P. Jackie
Doyle-Price
and NSVCG
Chairman Darren Jones |
The finished sign and what it all means
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Side 1
St Mary’s Church with pilgrims on horseback.
From the 13th century pilgrims travelled to
Canterbury Cathedral to visit the holy shrine of
Thomas Becket who had attained sainthood. North
Stifford formed part of the Pilgrims’ Way.
Before going to Tilbury to cross the river to Kent
on their journey to Canterbury, pilgrims crossed the
Mardyke Bridge, and walked along Pilgrims' Lane and
thence up the hill to St. Mary's Church where they
prayed for a safe journey.
An alternative local route took them along Pilgrims'
Lane to St. Clement's Church in West Thurrock before
crossing the Thames on foot at the ford which used
to exist there at low tide. |
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Side 2
A montage of pictures as follows:-
1. The background showing the Mardyke River, the
bridge (then an iron bridge) and farmland, was taken
from a drawing by Jane Palin c1870.
The Mardyke River used to be an important trading
route for the village.
2. The hay cart represents our farming heritage.
3. The Cricketers: Cricket has been played in the
village for over 100 years.
4. The Thatched Cottage in Well Lane.
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Wording on the pictures - Domesday Village -
Stiforda
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This is an
actual copy of the
Domesday entry
for Stifford.
Formerly known
as Stiforda
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In Stifford St
Mary has 40 acres. [There was] then 1 villan;
now 2, and [there are] 2 bordars [and] 1
acre of meadow. [There was] then 1 plough;
now half [a plough] and it is worth 3s.
There were also
30 acres [belonging] to this land, which
William de War[enne] has by exchange, as he
says. There are
also 30 acres more and 2½ acres of meadow,
and [this] is worth 3s.
Hundred of
Chelmsford. St Mary
holds Fryerning and Ingatestone now as then
as 3½ hides and 10 acres. Then as now [there
are] 2
villans. [There were] then 6 bordars; now 7.
Then as now [there is] 1 slave and 1 plough
in demesne.
The men [had] then 1½ ploughs; now 1. [There
is] woodland for 500 pigs, and [there is] 1
sokeman
with 30 acres, 1 horse, 9 head of cattle, 20
pigs, 16 sheep. It was then worth 70s. now
60. [..] St Mary
holds Fristling as 1½ virgates. [There were]
then 3 bordars; now 4. [There... |
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About Domesday Book |
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Domesday
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