The Sign
The original sign was made by Harry Carter and donated by the Women's Institute in 1956 to commemorate their Golden Jubilee. Side one shows Sir John Knyvet standing in front of his shield of plain red. Side two shows a 'Mendlesham Chair' alongside a group of people known as the 'Mendlesham Martyrs'. The crossed swords shown represent the local armoury.

The present sign shows a wheatsheaf and scythe at the top representing agriculture. Below this is the church of St Mary and beneath the church is one of the Mendlesham Chairs, which is made from fruitwood and elm. On the left is a Marian martyr, Adam Foster being burnt at the stake in 1556 after he refused to attend a Roman Catholic mass; he was part of the Mendlesham Christian Brethren, a group of Protestant dissenters. On the right s a memorial to John Knyvet, a 14th century English Member of Parliament and landowner who was born in the village. The sign was made by The Village Sign People.

The Name and Population
The population of Mendlesham was 1,407 at the 2011 census. It was called Mundlesham, Menlessam in 1086 and Mendlesham in 1165. The name means "The homestead or village of a man called Myndel", from Old English.

Other Points of Interest

Mendlesham Martyrs who were burnt at the stake for their Protestant beliefs during the reign of Queen Mary.

Inside the church of St Mary can be found two of the Mendlesham chairs, made by Daniel Day, a local carpenter, in the 18th century. A brass of Sir John Knivet can also be found here dating from 1417.

The village was struck by an F0/T1 tornado on 23 November 1981, as part of the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day.