Settlement Association

[Springs Branch]

Terry Jones, a member of the Monty Python comedy team (now deceased) was born in Colwyn Bay.

Michael Palin - another Python who worked closely with Terry Jones, including on non-Python works such as the Ripping Yarns TV series, was born in the Sheffield suburb of Ranmoor.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Alloa in Clackmannanshire also has a church that is dedicated to St John.

 

[Calthrop]

The prominent hotelier Sir Charles Forte (1908 -- 2007) was born in Italy, but his family emigrated to Scotland in 1912; some of his schooling was at Alloa Academy. Among many other ventures: in 1959 he opened the first motorway service station for cars, on the then new M1, at Newport Pagnell (Buckinghamshire).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire also lies on the line of the River Ouzel.

 

[Calthrop]

Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire also lies on the line of the River Ouzel.

All the birds, hey?

Otley, West Yorkshire, is also twinned with a settlement in the French departement of Seine-et-Marne. Leighton Buzzard's "twin" is Coulommiers; Otley's is Montereau-fault-Yonne.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Arnold in Nottinghamshire also holds a monthly Farmers Market.

 

[Calthrop]

Apologies if I seem ornithologically obsessed at present -- however: Wiki discourses at considerable length, about the possible etymology of origin of Arnold's name -- the "old" part meaning "nook / corner"; and the "arn" element, perhaps from "herne" -- old name for heron; or perhaps pertaining to -- present many centuries ago -- the white-tailed sea (and "river") eagle, otherwise known as the "erne". Re one of these bird species: Herongate (south Essex), near Brentwood, is reckoned perhaps -- though most likely not -- to take its name from the long-beaked-and-legged grey fish-loving creature.

(Further and incidentally on this theme -- Martins Heron, Berkshire: has for certain, nothing to with martins or herons !)

 

[341o2]

Near Farnworth is the town of Moses Gate, nothing to do with the Bible, but derived from Old English "The way across the marshes."

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Edgworth in the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen was also once under the jurisdiction of the Bolton Poor Law Union.

 

[Calthrop]

Mahatma Gandhi, during his spell in the UK in autumn 1931 to attend the Second Round Table Conference on the future of India; visited Lancashire, aware that his campaign to switch to India-based textile manufacture, would potentially threaten people's jobs in the Lancashire textile industry. He stayed as a guest, at the Edgworth home of the philanthropic local Barlow family, who had endowed the village in various ways; and held meetings in various Lancashire towns, including nearby (as mentioned above) Darwen.

 

[D6130]

Nearby Ramsbottom in Greater Manchester (formerly Lancashire) is also overlooked by a prominent hilltop monument - in this case commemorating Sir Robert Peel, the great early 19th Century reformer.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Bacup in Lancashire also lies on the line of the River Irwell

 

[Springs Branch]

Until 2006, Bacup was the location of the Guinness Record holder for "the world's shortest street" (Elgin St at 17 ft.)

This record has since been taken by Ebenezer Place (6ft 9in) in the Caithness town of Wick.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

St Fagans in South Glamorgan also has a heritage museum.

 

[Calthrop]

In the protracted English Civil War / War of the Three Kingdoms: battles were fought at St. Fagans (1648) and Inverkeithing, Fife (1651) -- which were, in very-simplified terms: not "Royalist versus Parliamentarian", but arising from disagreements within the basically Parliamentarian side.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Rutherglen in Lanarkshire was also one of the earlier-created Royal Burghs.

 

[Calthrop]

The actor Robbie Coltrane (who played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films) was born in Rutherglen. Some of his schooldays were spent at Glenalmond College, near Methven, Perth & Kinross.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Dalrigh (sometimes referred to as Dalry) in Perthshire was also the scene of a battle in the Scottish Wars of Independence in 1306.

 

[Calthrop]

A bit of desperation required, to get out of this one ! The name Dalrigh, is from the Gaelic for "king's field". A resemblance is born, "trans-lingually", to Kingsfold. West Sussex (near Horsham).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Upper Beeding in Sussex was also once administered by the body known as the Rape of Bramber.

 

[Springs Branch]

Dudman Aggregates Ltd operates a facility at the chalk quarry in Upper Beeding.
The same company also distributes aggregates from its plant at the West Sussex village of Washington.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Itchingfield in West Sussex was also under the jurisdiction of the Horsham Poor Law Union.

 

[Calthrop]

Itchingfield in West Sussex was also under the jurisdiction of the Horsham Poor Law Union.

Witham (Essex) also has a church dedicated to St. Nicolas.

 

[341o2]

The author Dorothy L Sayers lived for many years in Witham, dying there, and is commemorated with a statue. She created the detective Lord Peter Whimsey. She was born at Oxford

 

[D6130]

Oxford has the oldest university in England, whereas St Andrews in Fife has the oldest university in Scotland (founded in 1411).

 

[NorthOxonian]

St Andrews (more specifically its old course) has hosted the Open Championship more times than anywhere else. The second most frequent venue, albeit no longer in use, is at Prestwick in Ayrshire.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Northolt in West London also has a Polish War Memorial.

 

[Calthrop]

Paul Kidby -- artist known for his association with Terry Pratchett's Discworld -- was born in Northolt. Pratchett himself was born in Beaconsfield, not hugely far away. (I personally find Pratchett's work totally un-funny and un-entertaining; but it would seem I'm in a minority here.)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Elstree in Hertfordshire was another settlement chosen to site a film studio.

 

[Springs Branch]

Elstree was the location of London Transport's large Aldenham Bus Overhaul Works. In the 1980s, with changes to the types and maintenance procedures for London buses, Aldenham Works closed and its role taken over by a smaller facility at Chiswick.