#Placenames

If there’s one outcome I wanted for #TheCuckoosLea it’s that it will bring greater attention to the heritage of our ancient place-names which include a lot of nature! Making @wainwrightprize.bsky.social’s shortlist this year is validation of that aim. #naturewriting #PlaceNames #WainwrightPrize

Clach nam Breatann, Stirling. 'Stone of the Britons'. It stands in Glen Falloch, at the head of Loch Lomond, and probably commemorates either a boundary or a battle. Source: WJ Watson - The Celtic #PlaceNames of Scotland. 📸Eoghan

Hackness, North Yorkshire. Hacanos 731, Hagenesse 1086. 'Hook-shaped or projecting headland'. Old English haca + nose (replaced by næss). Source: Oxford Dictionary of British #PlaceNames. St Hild founded a monastery there. 📸Ian S #medievalsky

"Sròn Bheag – ‘Little Nose’. Gleann Fionnlighe – ‘Glen of the White Stream’." Gaelic place names are poetry etched into the land. The 6th part in my new inspired writing & photography series: www.rkphotographic.com/bl…. #GaelicToponymy #PlaceNames #SpioradAirdnamMurchan

Lindisfarne, Northumberland. Lindisfarnae c.700. 'Domain at (a stream called) Lindis', from a derivative of Old Irish *lind 'lake' + ferann 'land'. Also called Holy Island. Source: Oxford Dictionary of British #PlaceNames. Its Brittonic name was Medcaut. 📸DigVentures

Hātabaðan, n: Bath (place name). (HA-ta-BA-thon / ˈhaː-ta-ˌba-θan) The city of Bath used to be called Hot Baths. Image: Book of Hours; St Omer or Théouranne, c. 1320; @britishlibrary.bsky.social Add MS 36684, f. 7v. #OldEnglish #WOTD #placenames

Monk Fryston, North Yorkshire. Fristun c.1030, Munechesfryston 1166. ‘Farmstead of the Frisians’. Old English Frīsa + tūn. Affix from Old English munuc ‘monk’ referring to possession by Selby Abbey in the 11thC. Source: Oxford Dictionary of British #PlaceNames. 📸Mel Towler #medievalsky

Bromborough, Wirral. Brunburg early 12thC. 'Stronghold of a man called Brūna'. Old English personal name + burh. Source: Oxford Dictionary of British #PlaceNames. The site is a leading contender for where the Battle of Brunanburh was fought in 937. 📸Rodhullandemu

Berwick, a common name, from Old English bere-wīc 'barley farm, outlying part of an estate'; examples include North Berwick, East Lothian, and Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland. Source: Oxford Dictionary of British #PlaceNames. 📸Dietmar Rabich

Inchcolm, Fife. Insula Sancti Columbae c.1123, St Colmes Ynch 1605. ‘St Columba’s island’. Gaelic inis. Source: Oxford Dictionary of British #PlaceNames. 📸Magnus Hagdorn #medievalsky

Caldbeck, Cumbria. Caldebek 11thC. ‘Cold stream’. Old Scandinavian kaldr + bekkr. Source: Oxford Dictionary of British #PlaceNames. 📸Les Hull #medievalsky

Hartlepool. Herterpol c.1170. 'Pool or bay near the stag peninsula'. Old English heorot + ēg +  pōl. Source: Oxford Dictionary of British #PlaceNames. Bede calls the monastery there Heruteu, 'the island of the hart', whose founding abbess was Heiu. 📸DigVentures