My parents moved to Cirencester - we had heard that it was said Cisseter, but the locals all said Ciren (sounds like siren with a z (sort of)), and my second ciousin who was stationed nearby in the war said the folk near Kemble called it Sister. There seems to be a class thing. Ciceter (usual spelling) requires a narrow mouth shape more often found with upper class vowels, while Ciren is a broader more rural sound. I've chickened out and say the whole thing.

There is evidence that the Celts started this sort of thing under the Romans. Durobrivae, the fort at the bridges, became Robri, heard by the Jutes as Hrofi, a personal name - they called it Hrofi's ceaster, which became Rochester. We don't like long names, or ones which require over-energetic mouth movements. Nothing to do with the way Coemhen is pronounced Kevin.

Try Trottiscliffe - Trosley, Shipbourne - Shibburn, Wrotham - Root'm. Then there's Finglesham, which ought to be Thinglesham, but has had an f since the conquest.

And how should one pronounce Chesney? Like Cheyne Walk?

Another thread referred to my alma mater St. Osyth's, pronounced Toosey. I've wondered if Toomey came from St. Omer.

Penny