Rocklands, Norfolk

It depicts:
The predominantly agricultural nature of the village
The medieval churches of All Saints and St Peter's, and the ruins of St Andrew's Church
The mill which used to stand in the village
The rooks, one possible derivation of the name of the village
The peacocks which roam throughout the village
the Rev Leonard James,Vicar of St Peter's, who was murdered in1608

The Murder of Rev Leonard James
It was in 1608 that Leonard James was murdered in his bed on the night of the feast of the Epiphany (Twelth Night). The crime was comitted by his Curate,Lowe, who was having an affair with James's wife. Their eight year old daughter witnessed her father being smothered and accused Lowe the next day. Mrs James caused the church bell to be rung and Lowe buried James, who was said to have died of natural causes. A servant had also overheard the crime and having taken fright, then went to the local J.P.
After the trial Mrs James was burnt at the stake on Castle Hill, Thetford. Having watched his mistress's death, Lowe then confessed to the murder of his illegitimate child some years before. Lowe was drawn and hanged.

The sign was made by Signs of the Times of Leighton Buzzard Web:www.signsofthetimes.co.uk