Gunthorpe village sign (detail)

Image: © Adrian S Pye Taken: 22 Jul 2015

The sign is carved in wood showing various periods of the history of the village. A wheatsheaf indicates that the village is agricultural and has been for most or all of its existence. A tree and four pigs dated 1086 tells us that Gunthorpe was mentioned in the Domesday Book and had woodland a four pigs. Below is a dog peering at a crown, with the date 1201, this recalls, and I quote, “William, son of Robert le Mey, had 20s. lands, formerly the King's demean, granted by Henry I. and held with Causton, by grand serjeanty, the keeping a hound (brachettus) for the King. In 1678 the poor have 25s. a year out of Malthouse Pightle, left by Christopher Ringer, and in 1777 John Towne makes a similar gesture. A cottage loaf, bottom right represents the legacy. In 1747, Isaac Le Heup of Gunthorpe local gent an landowner dies. He is represented by a gravestone is illustrated with the initials I L.

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