Residents of St Peter’s have been enjoying their newly refurbished village sign after Thanet District Council Officers and Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council officers worked together to bring the project to fruition.
TDC Open Spaces Team removed the heavy bronze plaque from its pole on Hopeville Avenue and delivered it to Pierremont Hall where the Town Council’s Operations Officer got to work cleaning and repainting it.
The Town Mayor, Cllr George Rusiecki said, “ It was good to work in partnership with our colleagues at TDC pooling resources and talents to bring this much-loved local landmark back to life. The sign has an interesting history and it is great to seeing it looking as good as new.”
Residents may be interested to know more about the history:
In 1920 Prince Albert, Duke of York (later George VI) gave a speech to the Royal Academy in 1920 promoting the wider use of village signs. The Duke said “The development of motor travelling has brought back to our highways some of the importance which they enjoyed in the old coaching days. I feel sure that many of my comrade motorists would welcome the revival of the village sign or emblem to the visitor in a strange land. The name of many a village would offer scope for the wit and humour of the artist”.
Inspired by the Duke’s address, the Daily Mail launched a nationwide village sign design competition and exhibition offering over £2,200 in total prizes. A total of 525 entries were received, and 26 entries were shortlisted. Ten awards were made with the first prize of £1000 going to St Peter’s.
