The Pillar Of Salt Road Sign

The Pillar of Salt Road Sign is a road sign located on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds, designed in 1935 by Basil Oliver, the architect for Bury St Edmunds Town Council. Made of whitewashed concrete and metal, it showcases the International Modern style.

The sign features a large octagonal pier topped with a simple, slightly overhanging lantern. It has projecting box-framed road signs that point in three directions. The structure stands on a plinth with steps and small corner octagonal piers. Known as the 'Pillar of Salt', it is a central feature in a significant group of listed buildings and is situated near the former Abbey gatehouse.

Historically, the Town Council aimed to create a fitting sign for this important location as motor traffic increased and the need for clear signage became essential. Basil Oliver provided design advice during a time when road signs were being standardized under the 1933 Regulations. This sign is distinctive and likely unique, having received approval from the Ministry of Transport in June 1935, with a compromise on the size of the letters and numbers to meet the new standards.