The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #10508   Message #2964159
Posted By: Howard Jones
13-Aug-10 - 03:54 AM
Thread Name: Place names
Subject: RE: Place names
As an Essex Calf, long exiled in t'North, I'm particularly fond of this old rhyme of Essex place names. It was published by Spike Mays in his book "Reuben's Corner" about his childhood growing up on the Essex-Suffolk border. He learned it from a horseman on the farm, George "Toe-rag" Smith.

Willingale Doe and Willingale Spain
Bulvan and Bobbingworth, Colne Engaine
Wenden Lofts, Beaumont-cum-Mose, Bung Row
Gestingthorpe, Ugley and Fingringhoe
Helions Bumpstead and Mountnessing
Bottle End, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Messing
Islands of Canvey, Foulness, Potton
Stondon Massey and Belchamp Otton
Ingrave and Inworth and Kedington
Shallow Bowels, Ulting and Kelvedon
Margaret Roothing and Manningtree
The bolder you sound 'em, the better they be!