Britain’s spookiest place names
With Halloween just around the corner, it’s a great excuse to have a bit of fun looking at Britain’s spookiest place names.
Place names have been a bit of a running theme over the past few weeks, what with Location Lingo and last week’s look at how history has influenced the names of places and regions across the country.
In preparation for this post, I asked people to contribute their spookiest place names on Twitter, and are some of my favourites – enjoy!
Pumpkins!
There are over 80 places that ‘belong’ to the Devil in Britain. These include Devils Beef Tub, Devils Frying Pan, Devil’s Pulpit and Devils Thrashing Floor! Thanks to @StevenFeldman and @AngusWillson for these devilish suggestions.
Our friends at @yorkshire_dales suggested the wonderful Boggarts Roaring Holes and the Valley of Desolation in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. And in case you’re wondering what a boggart is, as pointed out by the lovely people at @groughmag, a boggart is a malevolent fairy who tugs on your ears!
In the Lake District there’s Fangs Brow, Hell Gill, Ravenglass, Wolf Crags and Boo Tarn! – suggested by @lakedistrictnpa – thank you.
Coombe Gibbet on Gallows Down, Berkshire comes courtesy of @andrewdlindsay.
From @GeorgeMacD came Midnight Farm, near Ingleby Greenhow, North Yorkshire. George thinks the name come from the fact the farm is frequently cast in shadow by the moors above.
And finally, here are a few more I managed to dig up by searching for place names on our Map Shop.
Hell Hole, Warwickshire
Witch Crags, Northumberland
And The Scare in Cumbria
Thank you to everyone who contributed and I’m sorry I couldn’t mention all the suggestions, but If you think of anymore, I’d love to hear them.
[Image by orangeacid's via Flikr]
Themocracy
There is a place called ‘Little Hell’ which is on Par Sands, near Fowey, Cornwall. SX 085 525 GB Grid
You’ve missed, Witcham, Witcham Toll, Witchford and Coveney all just west of Ely in the Fens.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Pete Jarrett, OS Leisure. OS Leisure said: By @ordnancesurvey: Britain’s spookiest place names http://bit.ly/9Gg3Fg [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by National Parks, Ordnance Survey, Yorkshire Dales, ASK GNW, Paul Beauchamp and others. Paul Beauchamp said: @StevenFeldman name checked you in our #spookiestplacenames post today. Thanks for taking part – http://bit.ly/d0QSlM [...]
Wainbody Wood and Gibbet Hill near where I grew up just outside Coventry SP3174
@Gilbert @ramage and @zephyrweb – thanks for leaving comments. There are so many spooky place names I think I could’ve written a whole book! There are so many ‘Hells”Devils’ and ‘Gibbets’ – I wonder what it says about Britain!
Buckingham!!!!!!!!!!!!!