North Rode village centre sign was first conceived in July 2022, when the parish council decided it would be nice for the village to have a historical sign to mark the centre of the parish, denoting features and views unique to North Rode. After discussion with Daintry Hall management committee and the Cheshire East conservation officer, a location was agreed in front of the Daintry Hall that could be clearly viewed from all directions, without obstructing views for road users. After considering the cost and options for a fibre glass and a hand carved wooden signs it was decided to go for a more robust cast aluminium sign on an oak post, that would last many years to come, manufactured by Morris Cast Signs in Lincolnshire. The order for the sign was finally placed in November 2022.
The starting point for the design was the wonderful carved plaque in the porch of St Michaels Church made by former Parish Council Chairman, Mr Leo Celario. Photographs of this, along with a brief to include other features such as the distinctive park gateposts, examples of local cattle and fields and the river Dane were sent to Morris Cast Signs to produce design drawings. The first few drafts were reviewed and improved upon and after many discussions on the type and colour of cattle, tractors, trains, crop types and the shape of Bosley Cloud, draft 6 was finally approved by the parish council.
The first stage of production was hand sketching the design outline to achieve the correct proportions. Then a full scale 3D relief model was produced by hand in clay, which was then sent to the foundry, CH Coward in Sheffield. The clay model was used to produce a silica sand casting mould from which the solid cast aluminium signs were produced – the final sign being 2 sided. Both signs were painstakingly hand painted using special paints and then given many coats of epoxy lacquer to protect the paint from the environment. A plaque was also cast with details of the King’s Coronation in May 2023. We had a deadline to meet for delivery of the sign on Weds 3rd May, just in time to install for the grand unveiling on Monday 8th May. A very tight deadline!
The Wooden Post used to support the sign is not just any post. It is an Oak post, just over 13 foot long and 8” square and it originated from the same company supplying oak frames to repair the fire damaged Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. Given the unknowns to be had when excavating any hole, we decided to have the post delivered 2 weeks before the sign. The 2 foot square, 3 foot deep hole was hand dug by Cllr Alistair Bayley and Mark Bullock in less than an hour and the post lifted into position using Alistair’s tractor. The post was secured in the vertical position using cross-bracing timbers, previously used for the Save the Parish signs – waste not want not!
Concreting the post in place was carried out later that afternoon and just under a cubic meter was supplied by local company R.T Mycock & Sons who, tried their best not to wake the sleeping tots in Daintry Hall day school next door and much to the consternation of their carers. Cllr Huw Williams was left with a wheel barrow of watery concrete waste with no-where to go with it, wishing he had a plan for it. Friday 5th May was sign installation day and David Stonir kindly came along with his telehandler to hoist the sign and frame into position with fingers crossed that it would fit. Thankfully it did and was promptly secured in place with security screws The commemoration plaque was then fitted prior to covering everything up ready for the grand sign unveiling at the Village Coronation Picnic on the following Monday.
Attended by many North Rode villagers, the new historical North Rode village sign was unveiled by Shirley Tudor-Evans to be enjoyed by villagers and passers-by alike over the years to come.
Huw Williams