Feckenham Forest History Society

At our meeting last night, Dr Richard Churchley, a well- known local historian, author and editor of our local history magazine gave a most lively and fascinating talk on the history and derivation of local place names.

He introduced his talk by describing the origins of place names; how most of them can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon England. But, as he pointed out their origins are not an exact science nor are they necessarily based on folk lore. Rather they had a useful role in describing to people who could not read or write a description of a place and where it was. These descriptions were mostly topographical – using the principal features such as hills, rivers etc. These names have survived the Norman Conquest but have been altered and adopted over time. Sometimes place names have the addition of a local land owner to make it clearer which settlement is being referred to.

Richard described the origins of county names – how some were ‘shared’ the origins of ‘shire’ and that others were originally kingdoms like Wessex or Sussex or Northumberland. Others were more local like Arrow (tribal name). As interesting names like Bredon Hill which means ‘Hill,Hill,Hill!

To help with identifying other place names, Richard had prepared a fact sheet listing the various elements which make up the history of place names. These included the four headings: Old English Place names, Single Elements, Initial Elements and final elements.

In each of which he gave various examples. For example a single element may be Hill or Moor; an initial element might be N.S.E.or W. Norton or Sutton, others might the presence of animals or a descriptive adjective like Defford (deep ford).

The longest list included the final elements such as ‘Beorg’ berrow, hill – Inkberrow (Inta’s hills) through the alphabet to Wudu (wood).

The talk finished with a lively and successful discussion with many questions from the floor.

The society’s next meeting is at Feckenham Village Hall, June 13 7.30pm with a talk entitled ‘Churches of Warwickshire’ by Tim Bridges. There is a walk also arranged round Evesham on June 17 start 10.30am. Contact secretary Jan Cooper for details.