Weird Nineteenth-Century Names July 8, 2012
Posted by Beachcombing in : Modern
Beach has long been fascinated by the use and misuse of names. Here are some beautiful nineteenth-century English cases of eccentric onomastics. In this town [East Dereham, Norfolk] there is an innkeeper who rejoices in the baptismal name of ‘Mahershalalhashbaz’ (see Isaiah viii. 1). I should think this is unique. He is commonly called ‘Maher’, [...]
Outrageous British Street Names June 8, 2010
Posted by Beachcombing in : Medieval, Modern
Be warned! This entry in Beachcombing’s encyclopaedia of the damned is not about British streets that happen to sound rude: Booty Lane (York), Percy’s Passage (London) etc etc etc. Rather it is about British street names that reflect our ancestors’ remarkable lack of embarrassment about the toilet and the bedroom and that have survived through to [...]
