“Ordnance Survey Map 104 : Leeds and Bradford… It’s a riot of names that could be nowhere else but Yorkshire: villages such as Luddendon Foot, Mytholmroyd, Farsley Beck Bottom, Wibsey, Odsal, Idle, Owlet, Harden, Greetland, Rastrick, Ossett, Soothill, Scarcroft, Wike, Kirkby Overblow, Spofforth, Scriven, Blubberhouses, Stainburn, Birstwith, Thwaites Brow, Cringles, Glusburn and Goose Eye – a list that sounds more like entries in a dictionary of Dickensian ailments.”
Mike Parker, Map Addict (2009)
Luddendenfoot (sic) and Mytholmroyd are a mere whippet’s throw from here. They’re a rum lot down there. Drolluns!
My pals and I would often while away geography lessons looking for funny names on OS maps. Imagine our delight at locating a Nob End near, I think, Norwich.
I have an ex-brother-in-law living in Kirby Overblow, a second cousin living in Blubberhouses, My dad was born in Spofforth and Birstwith was the nearest village to the place I was born.
I’m surprised Killinghall, Hampsthwaite, Burnt Yates or Kettlesing Bottom/Top weren’t on the list.
Just don’t get me started on Bull Dyke Wham.
O.S.M. B:52
This has sparked a memory.
If you take the A65 from Skipton heading for Long Preston somewhere around Hellifield you will see a road sign for the villages of Nappa and Gisburn.
I always thought Nappa Gisburn would be a good alias to use in a tight spot.
Or maybe he was a nippy winger (with a rakish comb over) for Bradford Park Avenue back in the day.
He probably knew Bobnit Tivol.
O.S.M. B:52
Mr Parker has somehow omitted the delightful hamlet of Slack Bottom from his list. Also a wippet’s throw from here.
I’m from Pudsey originally best known for giving a name to that blasted bear the BBC drag out every year (assuming that they do).
Apparently it was Mr Carter who was responsible for those occassional showers of wippets that fell from a clear sky when we lived at Low Moor.
And just to add, I’m out of exile for the moment, coming to you live from Dublin. Any readers over here I heartily recommend The Sweeney Mongrel (32 Dame Street) where I sit at this moment drinking a second fine pint after a very good lunch.