Description

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Take a journey down winding lanes and Roman roads in this witty and informative guide to the meanings behind the names of England’s towns and villages. From Celtic farmers to Norman conquerors, right up to the Industrial Revolution, deciphering place names reveals how previous generations lived, worked, traveled, and worshipped, and how their influence has shaped the landscape. From the most ancient sacred sites to towns that take their names from stories of giants and knights, learn how Roman garrisons became great cities, and discover how a meeting of the roads could become a thriving market town. Region by region, Caroline Taggart uncovers hidden meanings to reveal a patchwork of tall tales and ancient legends that collectively tells the story of how England was made.

About the Author

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Caroline Taggart worked in publishing as an editor of popular non-fiction for 30 years before writing I Used to Know That. Her later books include My Grammar and I (or should that be ‘Me’?) and Her Ladyship’s Guide to the Queen’s English. As a result, she has appeared frequently on BBC Breakfast and on national and regional radio, talking about language, grammar, and Pythagoras' theorem.