Author Colin Needham
In 1979 some villagers suggested that the village should have a sign. A competition was run by the Southrepps Society for the school children and the winning shape of a horseshoe by 10 year old Friedrich Dietz was chosen.
At a public meeting, it was decided to seek permission for 2 signs for Upper and Lower Southrepps as the two communities had quite separate identities.
The design, carving and painting of the two signs was undertaken by the late Mary Young, a talented artist who lived at Ham House, Southrepps.
Oak for the signs came from a hundred year old oak tree felled at Thorpe market in 1971. The horseshoe shape was cut by a Mr Golden for £40 each. The cost for the two signs including the stands and cobble plinths was £371.40. Volunteer labour was used to build the plinths. Money was raised in the village with fetes, coffee mornings and donations.
The Upper Street sign incorporates the historic Church; the long “reppes”(the strips of land from which the village may take its name;) a horse drawing a plough; a spinner at her wheel and a pheasant.
2018 ( Needham)
The Lower Street sign incorporates the School; a windmill (long defunct;) Foxes Beck with ducks; a farmer riding his horse over a bridge; the common with a sheep and a goat; a fisherman; a steam engine taking water from the Beck and a pretty unidentified pink thatched cottage.
2018 (Needham)
The two signs were unveiled on 5th May 1980 (EDP)
The Lower Street sign was renovated in 2023 by Dr Tim Willey and Max Mariner. The Upper Street one in the near future.