Funny place names

Monday, August 07, 2006

Read in the 5 August 2006 New Scientist, in an item about a place called Whorehouse Meadow (for entirely accurate historical reasons), that there's a fishing village near St John's, Newfoundland, Canada called Dildo, whose residents fought hard (geddit? Ahem that was me, not New Scientist!) to keep its name despite a campaign to change it to something more tasteful.

And I only recently heard that there was a village in (some might say "Where else?" but of course I shan't) Essex, called Ugley, which had its own "Ugley Women's Institute" - until they changed its name to "The Women's Institute (Ugley branch)".

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5 Comment(s):

There’s also a little village in Kent by the interesting name of Thong.

(By FatBusinessman, at 07 August, 2006 12:11) Edit Comment

My Dad had an LP when I was a kid, & on the cover was a pic of the artist standing next to a road sign for Shitterton...

(By Anonymous, at 07 August, 2006 23:39) Edit Comment

I've always enjoyed my stay in French Lick, Indiana

(By kirk, at 11 August, 2006 01:57) Edit Comment

I'm sure you have, Kirk, I'm sure you have..!

Wouldn't it be great if there was a village called Thong Shitterton?

I've also heard of places called Great Bottom, and Piddle Hinton. There's even a Little Piddle Down!

(By Improbulus, at 20 August, 2006 13:04) Edit Comment