The Sign
The original sign was made of carved wood and then replaced in a more durable material; both have the same theme. The centre is dominated by the church of St Mary with its tall spire. Around the top are the  famous Polstead Black cherry (which are coloured orange here).

The Name and Population
The population was 851 at the 2011 census. It was called Polsteda in the Domesday Book. The name means "Pool place", from Old English.

Other Points of Interest
Polstead is probably most famous for, the Red Barn murder of Maria Marten in 1827. Not surprising, her gravestone was chipped away to nothing by grisly souvenir hunters.

In recent years more Polstead Black cherry trees have been planted in and around the village, as these trees had declined in numbers.

Ruth Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, CBE (1930-2015), author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries once resided here.