Town Sign, Shefford, Beds, UK
Posted by: 
bill&ben
N 52° 02.312 W 000° 19.988
30U E 682908 N 5768681
A polyurethane town sign in a small garden off Southbridge Road, Shefford.
Waymark Code: WM9VT5
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/02/2010
Views: 5
The sign captures some of the historical features of the town
of Shefford.
In the top panel there is a picture of a shepherd and his
sheep, alluding to the origin of the name Shefford as
Sheep Ford.
In the bottom left panel there is a scene of a steam train. Shefford was one of the stations on the Bedford to Hitchin
line, which opened in 1857, and was axed in the Beeching
cuts in 1962.
In the lower right panel there is a picture of a canal
scene, alluding to the Shefford canal. During the 18th
century the River Ivel was canalised, initially from Tempsford to Blunham Mills. The
canal took some time to be commercially viable, but eventually it was extended
to Shefford, the extension being completed in 1823. The
canal gave Shefford navigation to Kings Lynn. However,
with the advent of the railway, the canal was abandoned in 1876.
The banner on the sign refers to the hamlet of Shefford being granted a market in 1225. Below the banner
are the arms of Shefford. The arms have the following
symbolism:-
·
The wavy lines represent water in heraldic terms
and refer to the two rivers which meet within the boundaries.
·
The sheep's head represents the ancient name
Sheep Ford.
·
The quill represents the writing of Robert
Bloomfield.
·
The open book is the heraldic symbol for holders
of a Charter.
·
The crook forms part of the heraldic symbol for a
market town.