The Sign
Halesworth has two approach signs at the north and south of the town and a more recent sign closer to the town centre, which was erected in 2001 and made by Mark Goldsworthy of Bungay as stated on the back from wood provided by Sotterley; also on the reverse of the town sign is the same shield as those on the approach signs. The town sign was paid for by the Town Council and Halesworth Tourism Group and unveiled by Mr Whitlow, Chairman of the Parish Council.

On the town centre sign the background is the six railway viaduct arches of the Lowestoft to Ipswich Railway line, the largest in the county. The people represent the various people and occupations in the town with the blue banner representing the River Blyth which meanders around the town. A shoemaker leads the procession followed by a Christian leader and his wife depicting church life, a spinster or lacemaker with her spindle, a maltster with a shovel held high, and a young boy followed by some ducks, a riverman carrying rope, a dressmaker and milliner, a young girl with a hoop, a baker’s boy carrying a tray of buns followed by a lamb. They all have an arm on the next ones shoulder to represent community unity and friendship. The spandrels are in the form of American airmen illustrating the importance of the nearby Holton airfield during World War II.

The unofficial town arms shown on both signs are as follows; the bottom of the shield shows the three open crowns on a red field of the see of Ely - similar to the Isle of Ely County Council. The chief has on the left the three gold mitres on blue of the See of Norwich. The rest of the chief consists of the arms of the Town of Ipswich. Two mirrored crests are used of some form of leopard.

The Name and Population
The population was 4,726 at the 2011 census. It was called Healesuurda and Halesuuorda in the Domesday Book. The name means "Haele's enclosure or nook enclosure", from Anglian and Old English.

Other Points of Interest

Excavations outside the White Hart pub in 1991 discovered part of a causeway – probably dating from the late Saxon period.

The church is dedicated to St Mary.

Reverse of the Halesworth Town Sign