A village sign had been on the Parish Council agenda for some years. When the long-standing sign, positioned in the entrance to the Adastra Park, blew down over a windy weekend in Spring 2021, the time had definitely come to turn this aspiration into a reality.

The previous sign in Adastra Park was erected in 1977, 44 years ago. It formed a part of the celebrations to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, in June 1977. The wording on the old sign referred to the ‘Parish of Keymer’, ‘George Vth and Elizabeth II,’ and ‘1910-1977’. The sign included various heraldic symbols, including Martlets and Lions Rampant, and was enclosed in a metal frame topped with a crown.

It was painted onto a sheet of marine ply and lasted for far more years than anyone may have expected. This sign had come to a natural end and so opened the door for something new and more appropriate to represent the village of Hassocks. Meanwhile, around the same time, a local Sussex based artist, Joanna Myles, had contacted the Council enquiring about plans for a new sign. The burning question was, what should the fresh sign be like? The general consensus was for a more typical village sign which identified in words the name of the village and including pictorial references to local landmarks and /or historical features.

To read more about how the new sign was designed and what to look out for within the design, pick up a copy of Hassocks Life January magazine or click the pictures to enlarge them.