The Sign
The sign has quite a unique history. Ronald Blythe wrote the book "Akenfield" which was based on the village of Charsfield, which was then made into a film made by Sir Peter Hall in 1974. Sir Peter commissioned a village sign to be made for the film from Brandeston Forge, where it was made by Hector Moore. On completion of the film the sign was presented to Mrs Peggy Cole, a villager who had appeared in the film. The sign was erected outside her home and was used to commemorate the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977.

The sign has quite a few features, including: the church of St Peter on the top surrounded by the Suffolk countryside with its typical five-barred gate. Below the name are a wheatsheaf and a basket of apples representing local agriculture. On top of the post is the arms of the Leman family, which includes Sir John Leman, who gave his name to the secondary school in Beccles. The arms include three dolphins. The church has many funeral hatchments belonging to the Leman family.

The Name and Population
The population of the village was 342 in 2021. The village was called Ceresfelda or Caresfelda in the Domesday Book of 1086 and Charesfeud in 1254. The name means "A tract of land(field) possibly with a Celtic or Pre-Celtic river name, Caer (stony stream). The River Deben rises near here, from Old English.

 Other Points of Interest
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Leman. Sir John Leman (1544-1632) was a tradesman from Beccles, who became Lord Mayor of London (1606-1616). He held his first court for Charsfield in 1614. Today, the Beccles museum is located in Leman House.