THE mystery of the unique five-finger signpost at Forches Cross has been partly solved.

Two of the missing three fingers were found nearby and the search has been on since for letters and numbers to replace those missing and to find a craftsman willing to volunteer to make the necessary repairs.

Crediton Area History and Museum Society rescued two other signposts made by the same joiner, Joe Mitchell, and has them on display at the museum.

Because they researched the maker, whose family were wheelwrights at Knowle, and some of Joe’s tools were donated to them by the family, the Society keeps a watchful eye on the Forches Cross sign.

Some years ago Crediton Town Council registered the signpost as a special feature in the town’s heritage. 

When the family wheelwright’s business closed, almost a century ago, Joe began working for Devon County Council making signposts in the area, all to the same attractive design.

It is extremely rare for the posts to have more than four fingers, which makes the Forches Cross signpost so special.

Unfortunately the County Council will no longer finance the repair of these signposts and during the past 25 years this one has been restored twice by two different craftsmen.

The museum’s David Nation said: “Both these craftsmen and another who restored the signposts at the museum, are not as young as they once were and not in particularly good health.

“This signpost is extremely heavy and you need to be fairly fit to work on it.

“The Town Council believes that the County Council will uplift it and take it to the repairer’s workshop but we have to find someone first.

“Fortunately Adrian Price at Newton St Cyres, who has repaired many of these signposts in the past, has a large collection of the letters and numbers used on them and we have established that he can supply all that is needed."

Barny Butterfied at Sandford Orchards is interested in these signposts and is searching for someone who can help and the Town Council and History Society have joined forces to appeal for a craftsman to come forward.

Anyone interested is asked to please contact either David Nation on 01363 774441 or Emma Anderson on 01363 773717, assistant clerk at the Town Council.