The Sign
The sign was erected in June 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. The sign is double sided with different themes on both. The sign is located on Crown Mill Green opposite the railway station. The church can be seen on both as well as the two coats of arms at the top which represent those of St Edmund and the county of Suffolk, flanked by elm and oak leaves. On the first side can be seen a steam train which represents the fact that the village still as an 'open' railway station with a passenger service to Bury, Cambridge, Stowmarket and Ipswich. In the foreground is a farm labourer bring in the hay using a scythe. On the left are two rabbits which are rife in the countryside around the area and on the right are two pigs representing the former bacon factory in the village. The almshouses can also be seen behind the front of the train. Flora can be seen above the village name.

On side two the main scene is of Henry VI being greeted by the abbot of Bury St.Edmunds, when he visited the village in 1433. In the foreground is a monk setting a snare for rabbits and two further monks in the background. Rabbits were kept by the Bishop of Edmundsbury in a warren here. On the left is Sir Robert Gardener who was Chief Justice in Ireland who built the almshouses; there is also a rhinoceros at his feet, which can also be seen on his tomb in the church. On the opposite side are elements of the original settlement including earthenware and a  kiln; a Romano-British kiln was discovered locally in 1964.

The Name and Population
The population was 3,950 at the 2011 census. It was called Elmeswella in the Domesday Book. The name means "Elm spring or stream", from Old English and Anglian.

Other Points of Interest

The church is dedicated to St John the Baptist.

The village was struck by an F1/T2 tornado on 23 November 1981, as part of the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day.

Elmswell was named Suffolk's village of the year in 2008.