The Sign
The sign was designed by the villagers, made by a Colchester firm and dedicated to a former councillor, Mr. D. Wedgewood.

The church of St Mary is depicted at the top of the sign with three panels below showing a swan on water, possibly the River Garden opposite the Swan Inn pub, a Roman legionnaire in the centre representing the early history of the village and Gun Hill where remains have been found and a stylized 'M' representing St Mary from the church and village name. The village name has the river Stour as a background.

The Name and Population
The population was 701 at the 2011 census. It was called Straetford, Stredford 962-991, Straetford from 975-1016 and Stratfort in 1086. The name means "The ford on a Roman road", where there was an important crossing between Colchester and Baylam, from Old English. The affix is from the church.

Other Points of Interest
Le Talbooth, originally known as Leggs, was formerly a pair of cottages with their own quay and lime kiln. Chalk was brought by barge from Great Cornard near Sudbury and coal from Manningtree and Mistley. It was first described as the Tolbooth in 1659. Merchandise was weighed here and tolls charged for upkeep of the tall, narrow toll bridge. The weirs and locks placed across the river made the area prone to flooding when the river rose. It is now a restaurant.

There were three coaching inns in the village: The Anchor, The Swan and The Black Horse.