I love place names, but not silly rude ones. I love how they record the history and ethnic make-up of the British Isles; and how they show that we are all very much European and notions of nationality are all a bit rubbish. Makes me want to be a European federalist
Eh? Struggling to see how uniquely British place names show how we’re very much Europeans, especially when there are plenty of places in Europe trying to become their own nation states; does the word Catalonia ring any bells, then there’s Montenegro…
Anyway, around here there are signposts pointing to New Zealand, which is not far from Lyneham and Calne, and I can’t remember exactly where it is but there’s one sign pointing to either Scotland and either Wales or Ireland, which always amuses me when I see it. Piddletrenthide and the other Piddles and Puddles get their names from the River Piddle, delicate sensibilities changed some of the Piddles to Puddles, which is a bit of a shame.
Cornwall has amazing names, I drove through Gweek during the week, then there’s Brill, Constantine, Water-Ma-Trout, Goon Gumpas, Praze-an-Beeble, Goonhusband, Polkanoggo, Stepaside, London Apprentice, St Veep… There’s also Pennsylvania on the way to Bristol, which has a connection to the American state.
