Places / Streets etc that sound nothing like they are spelled

Post by **mhoulden** » Mon 28 May, 2012 1:03 am

Near me in Horsforth there's the settlement known either as Newlay or Newlaithes. Be interesting to know which name is older. I'd guess Newlaithes as names often get simpler as time goes on.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Mon 28 May, 2012 9:05 am

jdbythesea wrote: I used to have a mate who lived in Yeadon. He always called it Yeddan.JD Yes, and another common pronunciation is the rather more drawn out YEE UR DUN. Then there is OSS FUTH for Horsforth, and BRAMMUPP for Bramhope.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 28 May, 2012 9:52 am

jonleeds wrote: Then the other year when I lived for a short period in Stanningley, there is a road called Richardshaw Lane, however my then girlfriend laughed when I said I was coming down 'Richardshaw' lane, she told me that its called 'Rickershaw' Lane. Here's an explanation of the origins of Richardshaw Lane in Pudsey (Putsey?) I posted in June 2010 on the Street Names thread. It's from an article written by a local historian in 1887:"When the Angle chieftain, Stanning, looked from his hall towards the noon- day sun his vision was bounded by the slope which the Celt called the " hwpp," where the footpath now runs. He called it the " hrice," as we call it a rig, or as people of culture and superior education tone it down, the ridge. It was then wood-grown, shady, verdant, and sacred to the foot of the hunter. The leafy garment that shaded it, the Angle called a "Scua," which custom and superior education has so softened that we know the word as a shaw. And so "the wood on the ridge" — the rig- wood — became in Angle speech the "hrice scua," and as the feet of after generations trod a path to that wood the path became the " hrice-scua " lane, which the changes of time twisted so slightly that for twenty generations the path was known as Rikershaw Lane. But alas ! by the advancement of learning, the truth- telling designation had to be clothed in new gar- ments, and from the awkward hands of its blundering tailor it came forth as that monstrous abortion Richardshaw Lane !"Interesting that, 123 years later, most people still say "Rickershaw" Lane!!! The writer needn't have worried!

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Mon 28 May, 2012 10:29 am

somme1916 wrote: Armley gyer,Armley giro,Armley jirator.....oh Armley big roundabout thingumajiggy !!! That cheered me up for the day (sounds like Count Arthur Strong)

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Mon 28 May, 2012 11:10 am

Leodian wrote: What is the correct way to pronounce Harewood? (it is part of Leeds).I say the Hare bit as the animal so 'Harewood', but many say 'Harwood'. As for Harehills I don't think I've ever heard that said as Harhills! I recently had a walk near Appletreewick that I pronounce as 'Apple tree wick' but it is pronouced 'Aptrick' in dialect (I like that pronunciation). My understanding is that the village is definitely pronounced as 'Hair-wood'. The Lascelles family however always refer to their title as 'Har - wood' so it should always be 'Lord Harwood' The problem arrives with the stately home - should it be 'Hair-wood House', because thats where it is , or 'Harwood House' because of who it belongs to. I lean toward the latter as being more correct.

Caron · Post by **Caron** » Mon 28 May, 2012 11:39 am

drapesy wrote: Leodian wrote: What is the correct way to pronounce Harewood? (it is part of Leeds).I say the Hare bit as the animal so 'Harewood', but many say 'Harwood'. As for Harehills I don't think I've ever heard that said as Harhills! I recently had a walk near Appletreewick that I pronounce as 'Apple tree wick' but it is pronouced 'Aptrick' in dialect (I like that pronunciation). My understanding is that the village is definitely pronounced as 'Hair-wood'. The Lascelles family however always refer to their title as 'Har - wood' so it should always be 'Lord Harwood' The problem arrives with the stately home - should it be 'Hair-wood House', because thats where it is , or 'Harwood House' because of who it belongs to. I lean toward the latter as being more correct. I think it's just their snobbery pronouncing it Har-wood. We don't refer to a Hare as a Har.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 28 May, 2012 12:07 pm

I don't think it's snobbery, Caron. There's lots of places/names that aren't pronounced as they're spelt - Belvoir (beaver), Chalmonderley (chumley), Wymondham (windam), Richardshaw (rickersher), etc. If they want to say Harwood, that's fine by me.

SilverTed · Post by **SilverTed** » Mon 28 May, 2012 1:05 pm

My Dad always referred to Rothwell as Rodill. Haven't heard this for years although the school at Lofthouse is known as(I think) Rodillian High School.It was definitely Knostrop in our house.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Mon 28 May, 2012 1:12 pm

This pronunciation business is a puzzling affair, and fascinating too. I was never able to grasp why Sir Norman ST. JOHN Stevas is referred to as "SIMJIN" Stevas.

Mork of Ork · Post by **Mork of Ork** » Mon 28 May, 2012 1:34 pm

BLAKEY wrote: This pronunciation business is a puzzling affair, and fascinating too. I was never able to grasp why Sir Norman ST. JOHN Stevas is referred to as "SIMJIN" Stevas. I think it's pronounced sinjun, it will be because it's pronounced with a french accent as they would say st as sin.That's what I always thought, like when Roger Moore's Bond uses the pseudonym Sir James St John Smythe in one of his films.