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Mid Suffolk Council
Planning and development
Stowmarket

Magpie sign over A140 in Stonham Parva, Suffolk, approved

Will King Profile Image
By Will King Mid Suffolk Reporter
Councillor Nicholas Hardingham and Stonham Parva Parish Council vice chairman Ivan Richardson say they are delighted that plans for the sign have been approved. <i>(Image: Newsquest / MSDC)</i>
Councillor Nicholas Hardingham and Stonham Parva Parish Council vice chairman Ivan Richardson say they are delighted that plans for the sign have been approved. (Image: Newsquest / MSDC)
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Leaders behind a campaign to restore a historic pub sign over the A140 say they are "delighted" to see plans approved for its return. 

The Magpie pub sign in Stonham Parva, near Stowmarket, is set to be reinstalled after plans were approved by the Mid Suffolk District Council on Monday. 

The historic sign had been a feature of the Suffolk landscape for more than 250 years before it was taken down after a post was struck in July 2021. 

The sign is now owned by Stonham Parva Parish Council and the project is estimated to cost around £35,000.

The sign has existed along the road for more than 250 years. The sign has existed along the road for more than 250 years. (Image: MSDC) Parish council vice chairman Ivan Richardson, said: "We're absolutely delighted.

"Everyone travelling on the A140 past Stonham will remember the sign and it's an important historic monument for the area.

"It's a Suffolk landmark really, and it's really iconic.

"This has been going on for three years now, and it's exciting we are getting closer."

Councillor Ivan Richardson (right) at the location were the sign was removed. Parish council vice chairman Ivan Richardson (right) at the location where the sign was removed. (Image: Charlotte Bond) The sign is one of only three highway arch signs in the UK. 

Most of the cost of the project will be for traffic control, including a partial closure along the A140 to erect the poles and a full closure for a short time to attach the main sign. 

The sign was a prominent feature over the A140 before it was taken down. (Image: Newsquest) Nicholas Hardingham, the councillor for Stonham, said: "I think this is great news. 

"It is another step in a long journey to restore the sign, and it has been a long time coming. 

"The sign is unique in Britain as being one of the only crossroad signs, and it's really iconic."

For safety reasons, the structure will be set back 1.5m from the road, an increase from the original one-metre distance. 

Nicholas Hardingham, councillor for Stonham.Nicholas Hardingham, councillor for Stonham. (Image: MSDC)

The project has also been partly funded by a £1,700 locality funding grant from the Mid Suffolk District Council.

Cllr Hardingham added: "I'm really glad to have been able to support this project.

"I have been there from the start, and I'm really glad we are getting closer to it returning." 

The parish council are now in the process of crowdfunding for the costs and are approaching local building companies.

Mid Suffolk Council
Planning and development
Stowmarket

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