A Conversation for Pronouncing British Placenames
Dorset entries
beaminsterboy Started conversation Sep 27, 2007
I live in Beaminster, mentioned on the original article. I suspect that the "Bemster" pronunciation is a bit misleading. William Barnes pronounced it that way and I once heard an inebriated farmer refer to it likewise, but you'll find the residents call it "Bemminster".
Other oddities in West Dorset include Chideock ("Chidduck") and Eype ("Eep") in addition to the previously cited Puncknowle ("Punnel").
Just across the border into Somerset, the jury is still out over Crewkerne (Shrewsbury Syndrome). Some have it as written (stress on the last syllable), while some pronounce it "Crook-un" (stress on the first syllable).
Dorset entries
Icy North Posted Sep 27, 2007
Hi Beaminsterboy, and welcome to h2g2
Many thanks for this. I had some friends who lived nearby, who called it 'Bemster', but they weren't Darzet-bred. I'm fairly sure about Leominster = 'Lemster', though.
I know Chideock, but I didn't know Eype - it sounds similar to Eyam.
I didn't know the Crewkerne 'crook-un' alternative, either.
Hope to see you around the site!
Icy
Dorset entries
beaminsterboy Posted Sep 27, 2007
I agree about Leominster. At least that was what I was brought up to believe.
Another local name which no agreed pronunciation is Lewesdon Hill. Is it "Loos-den" or "Lewiz-den"? Anybody got an opinion??
Dorset entries
Icy North Posted Sep 27, 2007
I can't help you with that one. My reference tells me that its also a topographical poem by William Crowe, but it doesn't say how to pronounce it.
Dorset entries
gladtobegrey Posted Jan 25, 2008
Not forgetting 'Iwerne Minster', prounounced 'Yew-earn' or 'Ewe-earn'. Probably means the 'yew tree stream', though I have also been told it's Old Saxon for 'the gravelly stream'. Gave the Estate Agents the opportunity to be very sniffy about the ignorant incomer when we first moved to Dorset ...
Dorset entries
Icy North Posted Jan 25, 2008
Hi gladtobegrey
Thanks for mentioning Iwerne. I just looked it up in the Oxford Dictionary of Place Names:
***
Iwerne Courtney or Shroton, Iwerne Minster Dorset.
Ywern 877, Werne, Evneministre 1086 (DB), Iwerne Courteney alias Shyrevton 1403.
Named from the River Iwerne, a Celtic river-name possibly meaning ‘yew river’ or referring to a goddess. Distinguishing affixes from the Courtenay family, here in the 13th cent., and from OE mynster ‘church of a monastery’ in allusion to early possession by Shaftesbury Abbey. Shroton means ‘sheriff's estate’, OE scr-rfa + tn.
***
So, 'yew tree stream' sounds about right. I didn't know estate agents were such scholars of old Saxon - anything if it hikes up the asking price, I suppose.
Icy
Dorset entries
tayrick Posted Nov 27, 2008
I grew up in the village adjoining Crewkerne, and locally it was always pronounced CROOK-urn (not CROOK-un - we always pronounce our R's in Somerset). It seems only people wishing to sound posh, or who don't know the area, say crew-KERNE. And I've never heard Beaminster pronounced Bemster.
Dorset entries
tayrick Posted Nov 27, 2008
On my many bike rides from Misterton to Pilsdon and Lewesdon, the latter was always Looz-don so far as I was concerned.
Dorset entries
Icy North Posted Nov 28, 2008
Hi Tayrick, and welcome to h2g2
How would you pronunce 'Beaminster'?
I've had a few disagreements now, so I'll try to tidy them up and update the entry over the next few weeks.
Dorset entries
arghans Posted Dec 15, 2010
I have always heard 'Beminster', too. As you're from Dorset, how do Swyre and Long/Little Bredy go? I have always thought 'Sweer' and Bredy to rhyme with 'ready' - but am I correct?
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Dorset entries
- 1: beaminsterboy (Sep 27, 2007)
- 2: Icy North (Sep 27, 2007)
- 3: beaminsterboy (Sep 27, 2007)
- 4: Icy North (Sep 27, 2007)
- 5: gladtobegrey (Jan 25, 2008)
- 6: Icy North (Jan 25, 2008)
- 7: tayrick (Nov 27, 2008)
- 8: tayrick (Nov 27, 2008)
- 9: Icy North (Nov 28, 2008)
- 10: arghans (Dec 15, 2010)
- 11: Icy North (Dec 16, 2010)
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