Place names in Shropshire

[Ronnie6492]

Hi,

My paternal great grandmother came from Dawley Bank, or as it charmingly says in one census Dolly Bank! Her family were spread around the Boroughs Bank, Dawley area and a recent trip to the area gave us a feel for the area especially having seen the Squatter Cottage in Blist Hill Museum.

I do have a question however concerning place names. There are so many 'banks'  i.e Dawley Bank, Boroughs Bank,Lawley Bank, Ketley Bank etc.

Apart from the obvious geographic reason, is there a different meaning for bank possibly describing industrial use?

It would be interesting to know and if anyone can help, I would much appreciate it.

Many thanks

Ronnie

[Mike in Cumbria]

Why would it mean anything other than a bank - ie a slope?

I'm interested to know your thinking.

[Ronnie6492]

Hi,
thanks for reply.

I live in the far South west and in Cornwall which was mainly a mining community, various names were given describing what happened in particular places  i.e  they were defined further than mine. Many places were described as Stamps, indicating the process which was carried out there.

Of course the first thought is that they were all named as banks for geographical reasons but being unfamiliar with the industrial processes carried out in the area, it was possible there was another meaning.

The other point is that the wider area was I believed levelled when being developed as Dawley New Town or Telford as it became and unlike Cornwall for example, there is not alot of the original infrastructure to be seen.

But if it as simple as 'a slope' thats fine - it answers my question,

Regards

Ronnie

[Mike in Cumbria]

OK, I see.  As far as I know, bank just means slope but we'll see if anyone else knows another meaning.  You never know unless you ask!

Regards

Mike

[Viktoria]

I`ve just consulted a book I have "The Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names", it states that it does simply mean bank or ridge or hill.

It was worth asking as for example there are places in South Shropshire miles and miles from the sea named ------beach---- such as Snailbeach, Wagbeach ,Perkins Beach.
Beach derived from Old English Baece( stream) or Bache( a steep wooded narrow valley).
A little further on is Pulverbatch again a stream/ valley  but the stream is fast and "purls" along  . It is a long time since I`ve heard purl for rushing along.
 Viktoria.(We could start a thread about lost expressions    )