Strange Place Names II

[smorodina]

There are also some strangely pronounced place names. The village of 'Loose' in Kent (mentioned in an answer to the previous question) is pronounced like the word 'lose'. Legend has it this was at the request of the 'Loose Women's Guild' who weren't happy with the way their name sounded. There is also a village in Kent called Trottiscliffe. I challenge anybody, with no local knowledge, to even come close to the correct pronunciation...

[FredPuli]

Don't forget Ugley in Essex. It does or did have a branch of the W.I. So this was the Ugley Women's Institute. Trottiscliffe ? No idea. Round here we have enough trouble remembering how to say Costessey, Wymondham, Happisburgh and the others of the sort.

[shybearuk]

I have no idea about Trottiscliffe, but for YOUR places FredPuli, I would guess at: 'Cossey', 'Windham' and Hapsborough'. Anything close?

[smorodina]

Trozly - so a fair few unnecessary letters in that one.

[Numbers]

I'm impressed Shybear - first two spot on! Happisburgh's rendered locally as 'Haysboro'. I shouted at the radio a couple of weeks back when Sally Traffic made a hash of pronouncing Postwick, although half the people on the BBC still get Bungay, Taverham and Haverhill wrong. Having moved away from the East, the nearest example to me now is probably Slaithwaite.

[shybearuk]

Wow. I've impressed myself! I've always been interested in those sort of things since I found out that the surname Featherstonehaugh is pronounced 'Fanshaw'. And for your ones, Lodekka ... let me see ... Possuck, Bungie, Tayham, Hayhill and Slate? I know I could probably just do a websearch to find them out. But it's more fun this way ;o)

[andjac]

Slaithewaite near Huddersfield pronounced slouwit

[indiesinger]

Near where I live, we have... Alnwick, which is pronounced Annik but there is, next to it, Alnmouth, which is just pronounced as it is written. Very odd. Then Lowick is just up the road.. this is pronounced Low as in when an actor BOWs on stage. Talking of surnames that you pronounce different to how they are spelled - here are a few good ones: Auchinlech (pronounced Af-lek); Belvoir (Beaver); Cholmondley (Chumley); Colquhoun (Cahoon); and Woolfhardisworthy (Woolsey)

[cupra]

How about Towcester (Toaster) and Caldecote (Cod-e-cot). Most confusing name = 'Hints' on the A5 near Tamworth - road signs say:

Hints.
Slow Down

Took me ages to realise it was the village name and not a road safety suggestion!.