Fa – the Green Dragon

A Place for the Odd Musings of an Expat Bristolian


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Unusual U.K. place names29. _ Droitwich Spa

DROITWICH (SPA), Worcestershire

Famous for its salt

Romans named it Salinae

On River Salwarpe


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Other words explained 1. – Recorder

RECORDER

Internal duct flute*

in the group of instruments

well known as Woodwinds

* Internal Duct flute: A flute with a whistle also referred to as “fipple mouthed”


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Hogmanay

Lang may your lum reek

First-footing New Year greeting.

Wi’ other folks coal.

Note: Tradition in Scotland says that good fortune will come to you by the first visitor after midnight at New Year. The visitor should be a tall, dark and handsome stranger bearing a gift for the family. A small lump of  coal.

Translation: Long may your chimney smoke/smell (i.e.) have a fire for warmth; all the better with other people’s coal.

 

 


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Unusual U.K. place names28. – Pucklechurch

PUCKLECHURCH, Gloucestershire

Bronze-age round barrow

Saxon royal villa site

Kingdom of Wessex


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Unusual U.K. place names27. – Wickwar

WICKWAR, Gloucestershire

Name from Winchen means

dairy farm, owned by Norman*

la Warre family

  • John la Warre given Winchen by King John and mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086. Still owned by Roger la Warre in 1285.

 


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Unusual U.K. place names 26. – Bishop’s Stortford

BISHOP’S STORTFORD, Hertfordshire

An historic town

at a  ford crossing the Stort

river flowing through


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Unusual U.K. places names25. – Stert

STERT, Wiltshire

On the Devises

Andover road diversion

of Etchilhampton hill


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Unusual U.K. place names 24. – Tortworth

TORTWORTH, – Gloucestershire

Tortworth chestnut tree

Of fifty great British trees

chosen for the Queen


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Requiescat in pace – RIP

My Desktop PC

Trip to computer heaven

Dying a slow death


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Unusual U.K. place names 23. – Woolfardsdisworthy

WOOLFARDSDISWORTHY, Devon-shire

pronounced Woolsery

Anglo-Saxon Wulfheard’s home

Nice place to visit