Settlement Association

[Calthrop]

Another seaside resort, formerly graced by a -- now demolished -- pier: is Shanklin, Isle of Wight.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Boscombe in Dorset also has a noted chine.

 

[Calthrop]

With Boscombe having in recent times, come down in the world from its former relative elegance; it has become yet another butt of the modern jest of adapting the name to "something-Vegas", as an ironic allusion to Las Vegas -- "Bos Vegas". By the same token, Skegness is sometimes dubbed "Skeg Vegas".

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Clevedon in Somerset also has a clock tower.

 

[Calthrop]

As I've remarked in the past -- the south-west of England seems full of various rivers bearing the name Yeo. Clevedon has two small rivers called the Land Yeo, and Middle Yeo; a good way seaward along the Bristol Channel's south coast is the Barnstaple Yeo, rising close by Combe Martin near Ilfracombe, and flowing into the Taw at Barnstaple.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Folkington in East Sussex also has a church that is dedicated to St Peter ad Vincula,

 

[DerekC]

Close to Folkington is the Long Man, one of two human hiil figures in England. The other is the Giant at Cerne Abbas in Dorset. The Long Man is taller at 77m compared with the Giant's 55m, but the Giant is a more detailed representation!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Colchester in Essex was also chosen as a site in which to erect a Benedictine Abbey.

 

[Calthrop]

Alton, Hampshire, also has a twin town in the French departement of Vaucluse. Colchester's "twin" is Avignon; Alton's, Pertuis.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Froyle in Hampshire was also once under the jurisdiction of the Alton Poor Law Union.

 

[Calthrop]

I just cannot resist quoting Wiki -- loving its characteristic style re such things -- concerning odd goings-on involving the clergy. It says of an incumbent of Froyle in times gone by: "The Rev. Sir Thomas Miller was both vicar and lord of the manor, of Froyle. His grandson Sir Hubert Miller said of him, 'My grandfather hunted hard to hounds and drank two bottles of port with his dinner. I wonder he wasn't sick.' It was also reported that on hot summer mornings, the Rev. Sir Thomas would smash the church windows with his walking-stick to let air in. Although this is likely to be apocryphal."

Tamer stuff: but up and down England, stories are numerous about clergymen who were passionate anglers; and put their baptismal fonts to a secondary use, namely the keeping for a while, of live bait. The current vicar of Thurnby near Leicester, is a very keen angler; and runs a blog on that theme (though I'd never impute to him, the font-and-live-bait stunt).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Peatling Parva in Leicestershire was also once administered by the Hundred of Guthlaxton.

 

[Calthrop]

Corner-cutting a bit: Peatling Parva has a pub called The Shires Inn. Camborne, Cornwall, has a pub / restaurant called The Shire Inn (nothing to do with hobbits, to the best of my knowledge ).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Treforest in Rhondda Cynon Taf is another settlement where a School of Mines was established.

 

[Calthrop]

Treforest features the World of Groggs -- centre for making and marketing of Groggs; which are, I learn, cartoon ceramic figures of renowned rugby players. Taking a flyer wordplay-wise: I understand that the comical word "grog" first got into the language, via Admiral Edward Vernon (1684 -- 1757): seemingly a splendid guy -- more concerned than most of his peers, for the welfare of the ordinary sailor; and at times putting his career on the line re same. The tars called him "Old Grog", from his habitually wearing coats made of grosgrain cloth; and his part in the Navy's long-time love affair with rum -- promoting issuing of rum diluted with water -- originated "grog" as a word for strong drink. After a long career, the Admiral died at Nacton, Suffolk -- a little way south-east of Ipswich.

 

[DerekC]

Margaret Catchpole was born and lived her early life in Nacton. After being employed as a trusted children's nurse for the Cobbold family for some years she stole her employer's horse to ride to London to be with her lover, a smuggler called William Laud. She was caught and sentenced to death but this was commuted to transportation to Australia. She escaped, was sentenced to death again, had the sentence commuted again and was then transported to New South Wales where she spent the rest of her life. She became a well known chronicler of Australian convict life and after her release became a successful small farmer. She was buried in Richmond, NSW, but there is a pub named after her in Ipswich.

 

[Calthrop]

Oh, dear -- cheap, easy and irresistible -- Ipswich and Oz: Marlborough, Wiltshire, also has a namesake town in the Australian State of Queensland.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Hungerford in Berkshire also lies on the line of the River Kennet.

 

[DerekC]

In 1688 William of Orange was offered the Crown of England while staying at the Bear Inn in Hungerford. In 1066 a different William was made the same offer at Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Kirklington in Oxfordshire also lies on the route of the Roman road called Akeman Street.

 

[Calthrop]

Kirklington in Oxfordshire also lies on the route of the Roman road called Akeman Street.

The prominent Dashwood family were lords of the manor, and baronets, of the above-bolded. A still better-known, 18th-century, figure of the same name (not obviously closely related) was Francis Dashwood -- described by Wiki as "politician and rake": most renowned for his Hell-Fire Club and its assorted highly-vivid goings-on; based around his residence in Medmenham, Buckinghamshire.

 

[Springs Branch]

Until the middle of the 20th century Medmenham had a ferry service across the Thames to Frogmill.

Another foot ferry across a major waterway (which is still in operation) is the Hulme's Ferry across the Manchester Ship Canal between Urmston and Irlam.

 

[Calthrop]

Bacup also lies on the River Irwell (Irlam is a contraction of "Irwellham").

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Stacksteads was also once under the jurisdiction of the Haslingden Poor Law Union.

 

[D6130]

Stacksteads is home to a very quirky pub - which at one time brewed and bottled their own beer - the landlady of which is a noted local artist, specialising in colourful paintings of nude women. The pub - called "Barearts" used to have another branch in nearby Todmorden, West Yorkshire.

 

[Calthrop]

Stalybridge -- not immensely far from Todmorden -- is also twinned with a settlement in the Nord departement of France. Todmorden's "twin" is Roncq; Stalybridge's is Armentieres (of World War I song fame).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Eccles in Greater Manchester also has an archery club.

 

[D6130]

Chorley in Lancashire also lends its name to a type of sweet, fruit-filled cake.

 

[Calthrop]

Grangemouth (Stirling and Falkirk) also has an American football team -- the Chorley Buccaneers and Grangemouth Broncos, respectively.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Kirkintilloch in East Dunbartonshire also was served by the Forth and Clyde Canal.