The Sign
The old wooden sign was double sided with different themes on each side. Both churches are shown on the top and can be seen on both sides. The Belstead Brook can be seen on one side, meandering around the centre with the heron overlooking the bridge and watermill. The other side shows a typical English village scene with a game of cricket in the middle. At the bottom is the name Gavin Girling, who I presume carved the sign. The Women's Institute presented the sign to celebrate their 70th anniversary in 1989. There was also reference to a restoration of the sign by Don Phillips.

The new sign replaced the old in 2004, after the old one was vandalised. The sign is made of metal and again shows both churches in the centre, a stream with a bridge at the front. The tree at the top is a reference to Copdock name meaning. The stream with the sheep is a reference to the Washbrook name meaning.

The Name and Population
Copdock and Washbrook is now a single parish, merged in 1994 with an estimated population of 1,114 at the 2011 census. Copdock was not mentioned in the Domesday Book and was called Coppedoc in 1195 and Coppedac in 1254. The name means "The pollarded oak tree (the top of the tree being removed)", from Old English. Washbrook was not mentioned in 1086, but was called Wasebroc in 1198 and Wassebroc in 1254. The name means "The brook used for washing (sheep or clothes), or the brook liable to flood", from Old English.

Other Points of Interest
Washbrook church is dedicated to St Mary and now in Trust. Copdock St Peter is still active