Whether it is road, street, house or pub signs, each can hold a fascination.
Tony Painter in his presentation to Probus used all these approaches to show how names in different parts of the country came into being.
In some instances, roads, streets and houses were named after people who had lived in the area, or crops that had been grown in the fields. Could also have been that a particular historical event happened many years before the roads etc were developed.
Names such as Scotland, Ireland or New Zealand suggest a place far away and in these instances it is often a farm situated at the end of the lane. Family names were often added to villages and small towns suggesting the people were of some importance in the area.
Many influences were brought to bear on place names as the country had come through various historical events with the Celts, Saxons, Normans and Romans all leaving some evidence of their presence here. Public houses often have a historical connection with kings, princes or famous people, but sadly it would seem changes are being made which are not always welcome by the local community.
Members asked some very interesting questions regarding places they had seen in different parts of the country and where possible Tony gave helpful answers. There was an expression of appreciation by the chairman and the club as a whole.
Betty Guy, Chairman.
