There are historical antecedents behind many of our place names which reflect their past, often an interesting one. But some people either don’t realise there’s a historical connection or dismiss the idea that there might be an interesting story behind the name, and that it might shed light on the history of the place.
Earlier this year, there was a news item about Slag Lane in Westbury, Wiltshire, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-67486197, a street name that caused division in the community over several years, with some wanting the name changed to a more appealing name, such as Lakeside View. But little did the objectors realise the name has nothing to do with female promiscuity but that the lane was named after the slag piles at the Victorian iron works at Westbury. It’s good to hear that Westbury Council have now decided to reinstate the sign for Slag Lane.
In fact, we have a glorious history of rude-sounding street names, such as Bitchfield (Lincolnshire), Spanker Lane (Derbyshire), Butthole Lane (Leicestershire), Shitterton (Dorset), and many more – see https://www.countryfile.com/go-outdoors/britains-rudest-place-names.
All have an interesting history which offers a gateway into the past of each place and how the people lived and what they did.
