Recently the sign at the first ‘T’ junction coming to Bradworthy from Kilkhampton, has been replaced. For some time it had been incomplete but it finally disappeared some time last silage trailer season!!
In the course of efforts to have it replaced, it came to light that the first sign there was erected on the initiative of Forward 20. This was a group of, mainly ‘up-country’, people who banded together in the 1890’s with the mission to bring rural England into the 20th century. They foresaw such developments as large herds (of 30 or even 40 cows), mechanisation, land drainage and road signs as being the way to maintain the countryside by making farming ‘sustainable’. Various persons have tried, in vain, to have the sign replaced by one or other Local Authority. One man, after several frustrating ‘phone calls, was told he was a Tourist Board (or was it Office) Sign Service Emergency Repair. On being advised that no money was available this year (or for the foreseeable future) he made an application to the Devon Unit of the Non Grant-aided Home-based Enterprise Advancement Project. Sadly this initiative collapsed but soon came under the South West Enterprise Aid Team’s Young Persons Initiative Training Scheme, a worthy project funded by Europe.
After several months they passed the matter over to the Somerset And Devon Group investigating Traffic Signs. In turn, they agreed that a sign would be desirable, subject to a successful application. By now fed up with filling in forms, he decided to just get on and do it himself.