43 Charmingly Odd British Town Names

During a drive through Great Britain, the brilliant Lyza Danger Gardner noticed something odd about the little towns: their names. While many of them were pedestrian, some stuck out as suggestive, bizarre, or just a bit off. Presented with minimal comment, here are 43 of my favorites from a list she maintains.

1. Upton Snodsbury

It's in Worcestershire, near North Piddle.

2. Pucklechurch

In lovely South Gloucestershire.

3. Barton in the Beans

It exists.

4. Curry Mallet

Right at a crossroads in Somerset.

5. Droop

The Droop in Dorset, U.K. should not be confused with Droop, W.V., U.S.A.

6. Throop

In Dorchester, near Affpuddle.

7. Plumpton

In East Sussex, not too far from Ditchling.

8. Lickfold

In Lodsworth.

9. Warninglid

In West Sussex.

10. Nomansland

There are actually two Nomanslands in the U.K.: one in Wiltshire and another in Devon. See also: No Man's Land Fort.

11. Uploders

In Dorset, along the River Asker.

12. Matching Tye

In Essex. Sadly, there is (are) no Matching Trousers.

13. Nether Wallop

In Hampshire, a real kick in the pants.

14. Poling

In West Sussex, just south of Crossbush.

15. Patching

Also in West Sussex, quite near Poling.

16. Climping

Another West Sussex gem.

17. Didling

My kingdom for an additional "d" in West Sussex.

(If you must know, there is a Diddling Way in Florida.)

18. Crudwell

In Wiltshire. Note that there is also a West Crudwell, and beyond that, Chedglow.

19. Puddletown

An adorably-named spot in Dorset, near our next three spots....

20. Tolpuddle

A village just east of....

21. Affpuddle

Another village, also just east of....

22. Briantspuddle

Ah, Briantspuddle. Just down the road from Throop.

23. Westward Ho!

In Devon! On the coast!

24. Upper Bucklebury

In West Berkshire, south of Bucklebury proper.

25. Mudford Sock

In Somerset, west of Hummer.

26. New Invention

In West Midlands.

27. Picklescott

In Shropshire, northeast of Ratlinghope.

28. Marsh Gibbon

In Buckinghamshire.

29. Blubberhouses

In North Yorkshire.

30. Mamble

In Worcestershire.

31. Tedstone Wafre

In Herefordshire, and with the alternate spelling "Tedstone Wafer."

32. Hose

In Leicestershire.

33. Hoby

Also in Leicestershire.

34. Shoby

Another Leicestershire favorite, a short jaunt from Saxelbye.

35. Thrumpton

In Nottinghamshire.

36. Bitchfield

In Lincolnshire, southwest of Humby and Great Humby.

37. Over Peover

In Cheshire East. To the east? Peover Heath. To the south? Badgerbank.

38. Wetwood

In Stafford.

39. Wetwang

In Yorkshire, due east of Uncleby.

40. Papplewick

In Nottingham.

41. Bishop's Ichington

In Warwickshire.

42. Queen Camel

In Somerset, southeast of Compton Pauncefoot.

43. Great Snoring

In Fakenham, Norfolk. Yes, really.

Now I say good day to you all, and we shall discuss this naughtiness after a nice nap.