The Gogs

[LizzieL]

While trawling through Saffron Walden burial records, I discovered one in 1724 for the son of Goodman Butcher "that was kill'd at Hogmangog". The only local place I can see that might fit this is the Gogmagog Hills. 
Using the term killed at rather than died at sounds like there might have been some accident or even foul play. I know Cambridge students were banned from visiting the Gogs back in the 16th century, so  it must have had a reputation for something untoward then. But I wondered what was happening in the early 18th century.
Apart from the Iron Age hill fort, I can't find anything much about the history

[KGarrad]

Hogmagog/Gogmagog is the chalk figure carved into the hillside near Cambridge.

See: http://paganpages.org/content/2008/12/lets-spell-it-out-3/

[lizdb]

And it is the name of the nearby Golf Club

(sorry, irrelevant to the topic)

[LizzieL]

Hogmagog/Gogmagog is the chalk figure carved into the hillside near Cambridge.

See: http://paganpages.org/content/2008/12/lets-spell-it-out-3/

There seems to be a bit of controversy over that

http://www.archaeologyuk.org/ba/ba112/feat3.shtml

The area must have had a reputation for something. It was once owned by Lord Godolphin and had racing connections but I think later than the death of the son of Mr Butcher and certainly later than when the Cambridge students were forbidden to go there.

[KGarrad]

The tales don't have to be true for people to start naming places after them!

Says me, living near Fairy Bridge, and the Boggart of St Thomas's!!

[LizzieL]

It definitely is an Iron Age fort, I live not far away and saw a somewhat unusual performance of King Lear in it a few years ago. A Roman road runs along the northern edge, many Roman roads did follow the line of more ancient ways if they were in a convenient place.

[jbml]

The iron age hill fort is called Wandlebury Ring. We used to play there a lot when I was little.

Inside it is the country residence built by the Godolphin family which they used as their local base when attending the races at Newmarket. The grave of the Godolphin Arabian (one of the three thoroughbred foundation sires) is under the stable yard arch there.

The hills are definitely called the Gogmagog hills (or "the Gogs", as we used to call them).

But ... it seems a little far from Saffron Walden.

"Killed at" needn't indicate foul play. If a tree branch fell on him in a storm you'd say he "was killed" rather than "died", would you not? There's a lot of trees there ...

[DavidG02]

And it is the name of the nearby Golf Club

(sorry, irrelevant to the topic)

Not sure . Golf can get quite violent. ( well when I play it does)



Thank you for the other history there everyone

[LizzieL]

"Killed at" needn't indicate foul play. If a tree branch fell on him in a storm you'd say he "was killed" rather than "died", would you not? There's a lot of trees there ...

Yes I suppose it could have been an accident of some type - must have been watching too much Midsomer Murders!