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Merry Olde England
Palzang
Veteran
I'm sorry, but I just have to share this. I was just reading a story in the NYT (that's New York Times for those across the pond) on strange place names in England. Places like Crapstone (in Devon, near Plymouth), Penistone (prounced Pennistun - yeah, right! - in Yorkshire), Ugley (Essex), Titty Ho (Northamptonshire) (I'm not making this up - really!), Pratts Bottom (Kent), Thong (Kent - what's up with you folks in Kent?), East Breast (in Scotland, of course), Wetwang (Yorkshire), Slutshole Lane (Norfolk), Spanker Lane (Derbyshire), and last but definitely not least, North Piddle (Worcestershire) (apparently the main town of Piddle dried up some decades ago and has not reappeared).
Those are just the town names, mind you. There are also some pretty interesting street names as well, such as Hoare Road, Typple Avenue, Quare Street, and Corfe Close. (If you're wondering what could possibly be wrong with Corfe Close, try saying "4 Corfe Close" really fast a few times). Butt Hole Road in South Yorkshire, however, remains my favorite.
Of course, the US has its own share of strange place names. How can you possibly top the town of Blue Ball, which, naturally, is just down the road from Intercourse, Pennsylvania?
Thanks, I feel much better now that I've gotten that out of my system!
Palzang
Those are just the town names, mind you. There are also some pretty interesting street names as well, such as Hoare Road, Typple Avenue, Quare Street, and Corfe Close. (If you're wondering what could possibly be wrong with Corfe Close, try saying "4 Corfe Close" really fast a few times). Butt Hole Road in South Yorkshire, however, remains my favorite.
Of course, the US has its own share of strange place names. How can you possibly top the town of Blue Ball, which, naturally, is just down the road from Intercourse, Pennsylvania?
Thanks, I feel much better now that I've gotten that out of my system!
Palzang
0
Comments
Hi Palzang,
No probs. Have you ever been to the UK? A lot of Americans do that 'trace my ancestors' thing.
No, never have. I have a little English blood in me (as well as Scotch and Irish), but I never felt motivate to hunt up any family connections. I guess I'm not much of an Anglophile! My brother tho attended a chef's school in London.
Palzang
It's not so old a place, but quite merry.
Here's an Arrogant Worms tune about that beloved isle:
Hate to do this old Pal... but I don't want anyone thinking you're an alcholic!!
Scotch refers to the drink... not the nationality. The correct term is Scots or Scottish, depending on the context, but never Scotch!
Unless of course, after a particularly celubrious evening, you could very well have a lot of Scotch in you!!!
Palzang
No, definitely not the tissue... as that would be Scotts!!!
Sarcasm... just another free service I offer!!! :rolleyes:
Oi - I resent that! As a fully paid up Cheese-Eating Surrender-Monkey I feel I have to protest!
Palzang
Palzang
(in a purely tree-hugger way, you understand!)
Palzang
Oh and in Cornwall where I used to live there is Bugle ... leading to the phrase "Blow me, have you never been to Bugle?"
Douglas Adams and another guy (apologies) can't remember his name wrote a book called "The Meaning of Liff" in which they took place names and gave them to things that didn't have a name in the English language (rather like the bit behind your knee, the opposite of kneecap) which is worth a read.
Over here we have names that sound like characters from a Science Fantasy novel - I amuse myself on long journeys by inventing characters to go with the name.
Margilly - the headstrong space pirate lady. Dammarion - dragon rider. Percey le Grand ... no I don't need to go any further with that one!
There is a town just down the road called Grimethorpe - never has a place been more suitably named...
Palzang