Curious Cornish Place Names! Explaining exotic, unusual and downright odd place names in Cornwall

In this video we take you around a whistle stop tour of Cornwall. From Jericho to Jordan! From Barcelona to Bude! Goongumpas to Godrevy! Cornwall has some curious and fascinating place names, and yes! there really is a Barcelona in Cornwall!
Join us to find out where we will explore, what the place name means and why the name came about.
The standard description bit…
We are Sarah and Andrew and we film our walks around Cornwall and publish on KZbin, usually weekly. Sometimes we stay in accommodation in Cornwall and upload our vlog. Sarah is fascinated by sea glass and likes to collect it so there may be the occasional sea glass video too. The channel is a hobby and we both have normal day jobs!
We love your comments and read all of them. We also answer as many as possible. Unfortunately, we cannot answer comments received more than a week after publication.
Frequently asked questions:
What are your dogs called?
Sorry but we do not release the names of our dogs but perhaps you could make up a name for them!
What camera do we use?
Since December 2018 we have used: Canon Powershot G7x MkII
How do I find the books you use?
Most are still in print although some we pick up in charity shops and may be available on Amazon secondhand. Please refer to the video for the book titles. Every video shows the book three times. Sorry but we can’t put a link in every description.
Best time of year to visit Cornwall?
We love May, June for flora and fauna, July and September for spectacular scenery.
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[@jillianson4523]

I absolutely love watching your video's, I love Cornwall and its history. I just chill and relax when you guy's come on. Thanks so much for all of your hard work. Keep it up. Jill Ianson Leeds 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️

[@Susancb56]

I’m always fascinated by Ventongimps, Sticker, and Polyphant ! 😂

[@colinbaker3415]

This really should be the first in a series, as there are so many weird and wonderful placenames to investigate. Colin Leggo's " Cornish Elements Song " leads you down a rabbit hole of curiosity. Among my favourites are Playing Place ,Praze-An-Beeble and Colin's favourite Goongumpas ! Please say you'll do more like this.

[@daverothwell4579]

My wife and I were in Mousehole last May (2022) and enjoyed the best fish and chips I have ever had. A beautiful Cornish village, wonderful people and brilliant food. Well worth the trip from Canada!

[@esthermorrissey1454]

Watched this last night, I think that a sequel would be in order some time. Really entertaining again and clever editing- we enjoyed it. Loved the sign on the gate regarding the dog and cat ha ha!! a good sense of humour. Well done.

[@joyhursey1480]

Very interesting, you get strange place names where ever you live . It takes a bit of delving to discover how the place name evolves.Thanks , enjoyable film .

[@brianspicer8829]

A fascinating tale of Cornish place names very interesting to learn something new from your amazing research , first class as always,,,,,,Brian&Jane

[@georgefoord7087]

that was very interesting, Cornwall has many influences and Cornish people have had many influences throughout the world

[@westcountrywanderings]

Fascinating video Andrew and Sarah! After living in Cornwall for over 25 (sadly, no longer 😕) I am always learning new things about cracking Kernow. Thank you for sharing this 👍🙂 Cheers, Paul

[@judybee]

Seems like every week there's a little tale to tell you as coincidences from your vids! This week's video mentions Pochahontas as possibly passing through Cornwall....her statue and grave are nearby me in Gravesend St. George's churchyard and just across the road in East Street was the site of my ancestors' brewery and pub called The King of Prussia! (Old photos on line if you are interested!). I did some family history & was amazed to discover that the very place I like to sit by the river was the site of their brewery and pub! Odd. I loved your history of Cornish place names...a few miles away from me is a village called Pratt's Bottom....mind boggles as to what the history of that is!!!! You are indeed becoming most professional researching and presenting 📽🎬. I watch 2 other travel channels on YT & have said the same to both of them too...the TV guys need to snap you all up for sure! x J x

[@lindacourtemanche5550]

I love this video. I now understand why so many villages start with porth in their names. Mousehold fascinates me. At the of explaining the history I still image a gang of mice running in the streets.😂 I still want to know how the Lizard got it's name. Thanks again for a delightful video.

[@ihbcsomerset6966]

You’re a great couple and double-act, and really informative and enjoyable videos. Keep up the good work! 😉

[@lizmel8119]

In the words of Oliver Twist...Can I have some more please! I can work out most Cornish names but you enlightened me with a few. According to Elizabeth Dale's (Cornish Bird) podcast, Flushing used to be called Nanskersey but changed its name after the town employed some Dutch engineers in (I think) the 17th century.

[@johnhardy1054]

How about London Apprentice and Praze-an-Beeble. love your channel keep up the good work

[@bobspeller2225]

Hi Both, What a very interesting subject and presented with fun. Thanks Bob

[@cathydyer3774]

Thank you Sarah and Andrew. Very enlightening :)

[@marieryan2541]

Hi Sarah and Andrew. Itwas really interesting to day. Hearing and learning about the place names. Next time you could include Jamaica Inn and the why there are two St Just.

[@cebusapella9125]

Great video, hope you do more of these. Cornwall has some fantastic place names. London Apprentice and Knave-go-by are two favourites. I love many of the Cornish names too, such as Woon Gumpus and Praze-an-Beeble, and some of the Scilly Islands, such as Innisvouls, Menawethan and Men-a-Vaur. Some our anglicised Cornish names, my favourite being Man and his Man, the two rocks off St Agnes head. Many thanks.

[@thesolitarycyclist9005]

Ha ha, so called, because it was designed so that cattle could add a picturesque element into the landscape without straying into the more formal areas. Consequently, people exclaimed "Ha ha" when they realised how the effect was achieved. Best John

[@georgerobartes2008]

Interesting place Mousehole and its hinterland . The Spanish invaded the Penwith peninsular and landed troops here in 1598 (?) as a revenge for the Armadas defeat , I believe but memory fails me now . There is a painting of this event in the Coastguard Pub ( known locally as the 'Coasties' ) up top, where good beer and entertainment abounds ,especially in the winter months .After much rape and pillage they were eventually beaten back by the clubmen of the area at Penzance and the Spanish took flight . The legacy of the Rape of Mousehole can still be seen in real locals in the area , as some tend to have very dark or even black hair and darker skin with typical Mediterranean features but whose family line can be traced back to earlier times . The " Preaching Pits " are old open cast mines of which there is about half a dozen including Gwennap Pit mentioned near Redruth . Rush meaning red which we use in the word ruddy of course . Near there is a place called Scorrier , which is a geological term now that describes volcanically altered rock formations . Which came first is anyone's guess as Cornwall to the Scillies is formed of volcanic plugs of granite that had been eroded away to leave the chain of volcanic plugs that begin in Devon with Dartmoor and Exmoor . Many of the beach names derive from shipwrecks of which there were many as old as shipping to and from Cornwall itself , Dollar Cove is one as 2 ships carrying treasure were wrecked here and coins have washed up on the beach in the past .The Phoenicians traded for tin and copper here a few thousand years ago . Other places derived from the physical features of the land such as Penzance . Pen meaning headland and zance a corruption of the word zawns , a name given to the deep gorges that run down to the sea in this region . Lots of others besides Tre , Bre , Pol and Pen like Bos , Ben , Nance etc ., all from the old Brythonic language of the Celts . An interesting place that may lend some credence to the King Arthur legend and Cornish resistance against the Sasawzneks or Anglo Saxons is Castle An Dinas , which means castle of er 'castles' ..near Bodmin ( 'the place of the wise men') which sits on the River Camel ( Camelot ) as the buildings at Tintagel are much later by several hundred years . My favourite name was Penny-Cum-Quick , a name given to a mine that produced copper in abundance in the 17th C . The Earl that owned the mines in this part of mid Cornwall married but his wife refused to be called Lady Penny-Cum-Quick , so he entitled them the Earl and Lady Radnor . Other names are really odd like Playing Place on the road to Truro and London Apprentice where the fabulous Polgooth Inn sits near St. Austell . Of course you have all the Saints names . Like St. Just , St. Buryan , St .Ives ,St Mawgan who were the original Christian pilgrims that amazingly arrived from Ireland by millstone , leaves , and basket to set up early Christian settlements in Cornwall .

[@sallydingle321]

This was fab again guys...love hearing where names came from 👌😁. I have one for you... always wanted to know about a place called Sally's Bottom near Portreath , Redruth...and how on earth it was named that 😉😂👍😘

[@lynnoorman2144]

What a brilliant and interesting video. Thank you!

[@johnbyrne642]

Torpoint in east Cornwall apparently got its name from the fact that in the days of wooden ships they would tar the bottom of the ship which had been built in the royal naval dockyards on the opposite site of the river Tamar and over time the name has changed from Tar Point to Torpoint. As always a great video and very educational, keep them coming.

[@westcountrywanderings]

I didn't know this! Thank you.

[@danielwellington5317]

Narkurs in South East Cornwall would be a good name to investigate. So weird sounding!

[@bernicebest]

A very unique video, more Cornish history revealed, I did notice the Prussian and Sydney Cove before you mentioned it Sarah, how fascinating! loved Andrews impression of a Red Ruth drama Queen 😂 had to smile at the sign ‘Beware of The Dog’ The Cat is shady too. 😀 The Indian Queen got around a bit didn’t she! thanks for explaining the origins of ‘Mousehole’ I think! It was a long tail Andrew! you always start my day with a laugh 😂 both of you, thank you 🙏 very much 🤗

[@tonyratbullringcottagecoll1823]

Really enjoyed this video. Porth is my favorite place in Cornwall. I have always wondered how the village of Constantine got it's name, and Gweek nearby.

[@spookybaby1313]

Just found your channel by complete chance, I live in the next village over and whenever I’m in Indian queens I wonder why it’s really called that. There’s so many rumours and misinformation out there. Nice video ❤

[@spookybaby1313]

Haha I’m just on my way to hamburger hill for a maccies too 😂😂😂

[@Lord-IanPerkins]

Absolutely loved this episode, I have always wanted to know about the minions. Not only is it a fantastic walking area, it has this strange name. Would love you to visit and explain this one.

[@jeanspry3242]

Such an interesting video. Have been to most of the places you mentioned & especially Indian Queens on the way to Crantock. Thank you both 😊

[@wotislife2410]

Porth can also mean port. That could possibly be another reason it's named that.

[@rogerhudson9732]

Mousehole, remember 19th December 1981 !! The Penlee Lifeboat.

[@Erika-Uwe]

Hilarious!😀we've been to fowey in september for a bite to eat in the king of prussia .your books are a real treasure and we love your stories .thank you so much for all the information wrapped with humor and fun.brilliant , greetings from hamburg😍

[@sammysteel7449]

Love it

[@ilonggongbriton6437]

New subscriber my sweety

[@kernowcapers6199]

I live near Ventongimps which is a pretty unusual one.

[@Joalexlees]

I really enjoyed this episode, and as others have said, this should be the start of a series about Cornish place names! I don't think there is such a richness of fascinating place names anywhere else in the UK!

[@TravellingTorunn]

This was really interesting and entertaining 😊👍🏻 Especially about Mousehole. And I appreciate to get to know a few Cornish words. Now I know that Hayle Estuary means Estuary Estuary 😂 I see that Cornish place names can be influenced by the connection to other countries, like here in Bergen, where there was a lot of trade with other countries, especially Germany. Thank you for a great start on a Friday morning 🤩🥰

[@aLaMode298]

This is incredibly fascinating! The Cornish language is really pretty

[@amazinggrace4036]

A little bit of the world in England! Mexico, Indian Queens…love your collection of books! What I love about your videos is that you help us pronounce the amazing names in Cornwall. I was born in Central America wondering if you have a street name from my neck of the woods like…”El Salvador” to name my place. Or maybe “Salvador” for short!? 🤔Love your bit of history … stay warm and safe … Ana 🌹

[@davidjupp961]

Drove through " London apprentice " a couple of weeks ago

[@suroyal9394]

I’d forgotten that one!

[@ilonggongbriton6437]

❤ try fowey love thank you

[@julianbeesley5059]

I was in Mousehole this summer and a tourist got out of their car, and pointed at St Michaels Mount, and exclaimed to their husband, is that Pendennis Castle !? I can only assume they didn’t know where they’d gone on holiday to. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@justlooking4766]

My Grandmother was from Mousehole, Cornwall. As a small boy, I was so confused how she could shrink down small enough to fit inside a mouse’s hole.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

LOL! Sarah :)

[@Herefords]

Really interesting! I'd be interested in hearing more about other interesting place names.

[@christineching1891]

I always enjoy your videos, as you present in an interesting and light hearted way. I found the place names particularly interesting and would like to learn more. Especially as I have just started learning Cornish! 👏😀

[@garypeacock5919]

Excellent video. Since we've been visiting from Glasgow the past few years we always check on wiki for the origin of the place names we've been to, but obviously there are a lot of discrepancies . Hope there's a follow up sometime.

[@andrewringrose2089]

Are you sure hamburger hill got it’s name because of McDonald’s? I always thought it got it’s name from the pig farm at the top of the hill where you can smell them on the A30

[@suroyal9394]

Very interesting video! Downderry & Portwrinkle are two names which fascinate me - they sound Northern Irish, so if you could investigate those that’d be great

[@lyndonbelcher8747]

Very interesting history of names of Cornwall by the way the editing is very professional but you don’t come over is trying to be professional just come across natural brilliant

[@WolfmanWoody]

Should Mexico Towans be pronounced Meheeco Towans? Just asking. Nice video. Strange about the name of Mousehole.

[@eyesofisabelofficial]

Young Woman's Estuary may actually stem from "Ladies Estuary"a quite unusual geographical reference on any coast. But, Ladies woods and Ladies Hills are quite common through England on a North Western bearing. The "Ladies" (and Lads and Lords in a few cases) can be found along Ley Lines (Stone age trading routes) heading towards Doggerland which had all but disappeared by 5000 bc. Thus, the word has nothing to do with actual ladies and more likely has it's roots back in the Mesolithic (or even Paleolithic), and may be Proto Indo- European overwritten by later Indo-European, of which we find the most recent overwrite being Cornish. Taken to it's logical conclusion, "Ladies" was here long before the estuary ever formed ! The south west could have traded dried fish/birds and Chert up the Ley and Doggerlanders could have traded dried meat/game and Jute back down. Britain has at least 26 such routes. In Cornwall alone I can find Ladycross just north of Launceston, whilst a major ley runs north west, parallel, east of the town, that Ley runs 246/066* from Soap Rock (though it would have terminated much further out) - Dennis Head - St Anthony's Head - Carne Beach (none of which would have been coastal features) - St Ewe - Duporth - St Blazey - Ley - Langstone Downs - Carley and so on up the west country and through the Midlands (With more Ladies Hills and Lords Woods) then continues out into the North Sea (Doggerland). Our Island did not exist till after 6000 bc so Cornwall had a much larger surface area, and the channel was actually the River Rhine. Much of what is now a peninsular was lost to the post glacial changes to our landforms, the crumbley south of Britain is in a constant state of collapse, whilst after the Ice, the granite north rebounds. Many of our place names are buried in time and mostly date to the Mesolithic Northwest Hunter Gatherers and the later Neolithic Farmers with a large "Bell Beaker Folk" DNA overwrite taking place in the Bronze Age. On the point of a Portuguese Queen passing through Cornwall it only raises more questions as Catherine of Braganza arrived at Portsmouth and Pocahontas arrived at Plymouth. Cheerio !

[@hawaiitanoftruth]

Very similar names in Florida, as well..Check out-Old world Florida videos...I will also try and get Paul Cook to watch your video....Thank you very interesting ..🙂

[@1toppotter987]

There's a St Ives and St Agnes in Cambridge is there a link?

[@smiffy8364]

...and a St Neots.

[@leplessis8179]

Doublebois?

[@smiffy8364]

Two Woods

[@brianmerrien3290]

What about Barcelona /

[@brennditbrennus8916]

At least I think that Cornwall is culturally, historically, and geographically close enough to Wales for this to evolve towards concrete administrative and political developments. Why not an administrative and political association of Cornwall and Wales with its Welsh and Cornish Parliament / Senedd Cymru a Kernow? This would also allow Cornwall to be recognized as distinct from England and to benefit in addition from the advantages of Devolution. And in Welsh of course / Ac yn Gymraeg wrth gwrs: O leiaf credaf fod Cernyw yn ddigon agos yn ddiwylliannol, yn hanesyddol, ac yn ddaearyddol i Gymru i hyn esblygu tuag at ddatblygiadau gweinyddol a gwleidyddol diriaethol. Beth am gymdeithas weinyddol a gwleidyddol o Gernyw a Chymru gyda'i Senedd Gymreig a Chernyweg / Senedd Cymru a Kernow? Byddai hyn hefyd yn caniatáu i Gernyw gael ei chydnabod fel un ar wahân i Loegr a chael budd ychwanegol o fanteision Datganoli.