Features / things you probably didn't know
What’s in a place name?
Poor Arno. He used to own a vale but Arno’s Vale has long lost its apostrophe and become Arnos Vale. Or has it?
Apostrophes within place names are commonplace across Bristol. But where should they remain and where should they be dropped?
The area of our city around Portland Square was named after the church on the square, which is now used as a base by Circomedia.
is needed now More than ever
But the Ordnance Survey mark the area St Pauls, not St Paul’s.
And of course, nearby there was also a croft that belonged to John Stoke, who was thrice mayor of Bristol in the 14th century: Stoke’s Croft.
Like Arnos Vale, the apostrophe in Stokes Croft has long been missing.
But not always:
Stoke’s Croft china from Stokes Croft China – photo: Stokes Croft China
And then we come to Troopers Hill. Or should that be Trooper’s Hill? Or Troopers’ Hill?
Or even all three:
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “We’re grateful that a member of the public with an eagle eye for correct grammar has bought this to our attention.
“Generally our policy would be to reflect the place name and road name spelling on the council’s pinpoint mapping derived from Ordnance Survey base maps.
“In this case ‘Troopers Hill’ the place name has no apostrophe, but the road name ‘Troopers’ Hill Road’ has an apostrophe… therefore there is room for a bit of ambiguity.”
Of course, place names change over time. If they didn’t, we would still be living in Brigstowe.
Main photo of Ordnance Survey map at Stanfords by Martin Booth
Read more:
- 12 things you probably didn’t know about Troopers Hill
- Putting Bristol on the map
- Artist creates amazing Bristol doodle map
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