The Sign
St Petronilla is depicted on the top of the sign holding a set of overlapping keys and what looks like a cross, both borrowed from St Peter. The main panel represents the history of the village, with a nun on the left washing the hands of a villager, the church is in the background with a farmer bringing in the crops in front. On the right is a basket maker which relates to the village name.

The Name and Population
The population was 427 at the 2001 census. It was called Wepstede c.946, Hwipstede 975-1016 nd Huepestede in 1086. It probably means "The place where brushwood grows", from Old English.

Other Points of Interest
Once the property of Bury Abbey it became a possession of the Drury family at the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century. Whepstead Church is dedicated to St Petronilla the only such dedication in England.