When you look at a map of Yorkshire there are plenty of barmy names for villages. Here’s a look at 5 unusual Yorkshire place names and their meanings.
1. The Land of Nod
The sleepy East Yorkshire hamlet called “The Land of Nod,” near Holme upon Spalding Moor is believed to take its origins from the bible. The name refers to a passage taken from Genesis 4:16-18 which reads, “So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in The Land of Nod, East of Eden.” This passage of the Bible was in reference to the place where Cain was exiled to by God after the murder of his brother, Abel. In this case our Land of Nod though is merely North East of Howden. Amen!
2. Crackpot
High up in the Yorkshire Dales lies the village of “Crackpot.” The name is made up of a combination between the old English “kraka,” which means “crow” and an ancient Viking word, “pot,” which means a cavity or hole in the rock. It’s still a barmy Yorkshire name though!
3. Booze
The village of Booze was once an important lead mining community, with a population of around 200, but as the industry declined so did the village into a mere cluster of farm buildings. However, you would be well advised to access the tiny Dales hamlet of Booze in a more sober state, due to the steepness of the roads leading up to it. So much so that in 2008 The Royal Mail deemed this place unsafe for its workers to access, meaning that the villagers had to collect their post from nearby Richmond. The name “booze,” unfortunately has nothing to do with the alcoholic refreshments that may be enjoyed here, but merely refers to a “bowehouse, which means, “A house on the curve of a hill,” in olde English. Those who venture up into this remote part of Yorkshire may want to enjoy some booze at the Red Lion Inn in nearby Langthwaite, which famously appears on the credits of “All Creatures Great and Small. Unfortunately there never was or will be a pub in Booze itself!
4. Jump
The village of “Jump,” is situated a few miles south East of Barnsley. According to local legend the village acquired its name because of a stream which ran through its centre. Local miners had to “jump” across the stream in order to gain access and cross from one side of the village to the other.
And finally…5. Wetwang..
The East Yorkshire village of Wetwang has often been the butt of many jokes, but unfortunately its origins are somewhat mundane. The most common theory is that it derived from the old Viking word, “Vaetvangrr,” which simply means “field for the summons of trial or action.” It could also just mean ‘wet field.’ Either way it’s not really as exciting as it sounds. Never mind, the late Richard Whitely famously became the Mayor of Wetwang in 1998, an honour of which has been held by weatherman, Paul Hudson since 2005.
Check out these cool Yorkshire T-Shirts!
