Our previous tour of Britain's eccentric addresses was merely the tip of the topographical iceberg. Since that email, our inbox has been more active than a postie in Great Snoring. From 'Lost' villages to 'Ugley' residents (who are actually very lovely), here is the second leg of our tour through the towns and hamlets that make us do a double-take.
Hungry for Names? A Feast from East Kent to North Yorkshire
One of my favourite contributions came from a reader who remembered a specific crossroad in East Kent. If you stand at just the right junction between Deal and Sandwich, the finger-posts point in opposite directions. Turn one way for Ham, and the other for Sandwich. And if you're still hungry, the map offers a full banquet, plus something to wash it down with.
The Fryups in North Yorkshire are split into Great Fryup Dale and Little Fryup Dale. Despite the name, one reader told me there isn't a chip shop in sight! Then we have Bread and Meat Close, a specific address in Warwick that sounds like the start of a very good picnic ingredient.
From Water-Ma-Trout to Christmas Pie
Over in Helston, Cornwall, we have Water-Ma-Trout. We're not sure if the trout enjoyed the experience, but it's a cracking name for an industrial estate. Or how about a seasonal Christmas Pie? The hamlet in Surrey gets its name from a combination of a 16th-century local landowning family named Christmas and the Saxon term 'pightel' or 'pightle,' which means a small, enclosed piece of arable land. Over time, this land was likely called the 'Christmas Pightle,' which evolved into 'Christmas Pie'.
To wash it all down, if it isn't five o'clock somewhere yet, we have Cup and Saucer: a charming spot in Cropredy, Banbury. It sounds like the perfect place for a mid-afternoon brew. Or if you're not getting around to reading this till later, perhaps you would prefer Beer? This picturesque seaside village is located on the Jurassic Coast in East Devon.
Feeling Emotional? Giggleswick, Loggerheads, and Cold Christmas
Like a teenager's party, where you will always find someone crying on the stairs, your SatNav doesn't just tell you where to go; it tells you how to feel. If you're driving through the North, you might find yourself in Giggleswick, Wigglesworth, or Ticklerton, or hot under the collar at Loggerheads in Denbighshire. Apparently named after a local inn where people used to get into... well, loggerheads.
Try keeping a straight face at Sniggery Woods! Or, perhaps you'll be feeling the chill at Freezywater or Cold Christmas in Hertfordshire. And if you're looking for a bit of Cold Comfort, you'll find that lane in Alcester.
Welsh Wisdom and Deathly Names
But be warned: our optimistic Welsh readers have a cautionary saying: 'Live in Hope and die in Caergwrle.' Hope and Caergwrle are neighbouring villages in Flintshire, with the latter housing the nearest cemetery. The Welsh certainly have a way with perspective!
On the topic of death, we have Gravesend in Kent (originally called Gravesham, the home of the Gerefa/Sheriff), and Death Road in Ipswich: residents reportedly refer to it as 'Dee-ath Road' to take the sting out of it. It was once home to campaigner Mary Whitehouse, apparently! Before we get to that stage, though, we have numerous places across the UK named Spittal - a shortening of 'Hospital' - often a place of rest for ancient travellers.
Welsh Tongue-Twisters and English Oddities
Back in Wales, and the place names are more than just a tongue-twister. Our readers were quick to point out that they are also beautifully descriptive - if you know the language. Plwmp (Pronounced 'Plump') near Llandysul. Porth Neigwl: Known in English as Hell's Mouth. It's not a supernatural warning; it's a nod to the savage winds that offer no mercy to sailors. Broncysyllte: A local joke claims this doubles as the Welsh word for a brassiere, while names like Pantygelli and Pantyffynnon never fail to raise a smile from English tourists who haven't quite mastered the translation of 'Pant' (meaning 'hollow').
Back in England, we have Ugley, in Essex: Home to the famous Ugley Women's Institute. The village is charming, as are the ladies - it's just a case of an Old English name (Ugga's Lea) ageing like a fine blue cheese. It's also pronounced 'Oogley'. Oh, and before I forget, I received intel on Ralph's Wife's Lane that I mentioned in the last tour: Mystery solved! A local reader tells us that Ralph was a fisherman who was lost at sea, and that the ghost of his wife is still seen there today, keeping watch for him.
Games, Hobbies, and Geographical Mysteries
If you're looking for a game or a new hobby, the UK has you covered. Pronounced exactly like the circus performer, the residents are anything but in Clowne, Derbyshire. Or we have Tiddlewink, a tiny hamlet in Wiltshire that sounds like a Victorian parlour game. Trumpet in Herefordshire is named after a local inn that sat on the old stagecoach route. Which leads us neatly to Sound, an Old Norse or English word for a narrow stretch of water. Humberston Fitties is a gorgeous coastal area in Lincolnshire. 'Fitties' is a local word for salt marsh, but it makes us feel like we should be wearing gym gear just to drive through.
When places are called 'Lower Whatever', you would be forgiven for expecting an Upper version nearby. Not so for Lower Upham. One of those geographical mysteries, I guess, although Upper Upham does have a nice alliteration to it! You may recall that we highlighted No Place in County Durham last time, but apparently, in Suffolk, you can also find Nowheres Corner. Situated between three villages, it literally belongs to 'nowhere'.
A Dutch Perspective and a Final Note
And finally, the last word comes from one of our lovely readers who hails from the Netherlands. She emailed to remind us that Britain doesn't have the monopoly on weird names. Over there, they have Muggenbeten (Mosquito Bites) and Broek in Waterland (which literally translates to Trousers in Waterland). All of a sudden, Chipping Sodbury (or 'Sodding Chipbury' to the locals) or the fact that a teacher once asked 'Little Johnny' where he lived only for him to reply 'Why' (W-Y-E), doesn't seem quite so strange!
I know, I know! A number of you are getting to the end of this newsletter and thinking 'Hold on, I'm sure I sent a 'rude' place name - I KNEW she wouldn't include it in a follow-up.' I listened, I blushed, and put together the 'Parental Guidance' version. If you are easily offended or have a very serious job in urban planning, you may want to end here. For everyone else - here's the 'after dark' edition.
Jayne Middlebrook
Head of Product and Engagement, InYourArea
