Place Name

Close House, County Durham, England

Where Golf Meets Ghosts and a Good Pint!

Introduction:

Close House. A name that sounds like it were invented after three pints and a heated debate about what to call the place. Folk hear it and imagine a house that is either very close to something or very close to fallin down.

Maybe it were named after a family who liked to keep their neighbours within whisperin distance. Maybe it were a joke that stuck. Maybe it were a house that kept movin closer every time someone blinked.

Whatever the truth, Close House is one of those names that makes visitors stop, squint and mutter, I beg your pardon. It is a place with charm, character and a sense of humour baked right into the signpost.

Toponymy:

Let’s break this one doon:

Close – Could mean near, could mean enclosed, could mean the locals like to stand right up in your personal space. Might even be a nod to the tight knit community. Or it could be a warning about the wildlife. Squirrels round here guard their acorns like bouncers on a Friday night.

House – Straightforward enough. A house. A home. A place with walls that have heard more gossip than a hairdresser on payday.

Put together, Close House sounds like a cosy cottage but feels like a name with a wink and a nudge.

Historical Context:

Close House goes back to the sixteenth century, which means it has seen more drama than a full season of EastEnders. It started life as a private residence, then became a hotel, then a golf club, then a place where golfers swear under their breath and ghosts allegedly wander the halls lookin for their lost handicap.

Was it named after a close knit family Was it because the house sat close to the road Was it because the builder ran out of imagination No one knaws. But the mystery is half the fun.

Points of Interest:

If you are knockin aboot, have a look at:

• Close House Golf Club – Fancy greens, fancy views and fancy swear words when your ball goes missin.

• Hadrians Wall – Romans built it, weather battered it, tourists love it.

• Hexham Abbey – Medieval, majestic and only mildly haunted.

• Corbridge Roman Town – Ruins full of history and the odd ghostly legionnaire.

• The Black Bull Inn – A proper pub with proper pints and locals who love a good yarn.

Notable Figures:

Folk tied to Close House or County Durham include:

• Sir Bobby Robson – Legend of the North East, loved everywhere.

• Cheryl Cole – Pop star with pipes strong enough to shake the roof off Close House.

• George Stephenson – Father of railways, moved things along nicely.

• J. B. Priestley – Writer who understood people better than most.

• Dr John Snow – Epidemiology pioneer who kept things very close to the facts.

Conclusion:

So next time you find yourself in Close House, take a moment to enjoy the daftness of a name that sounds like a sitcom location but feels like a warm northern welcome. You might meet a golfer, you might meet a ghost, you might meet a neighbour who stands a bit too close, but you will definitely leave with a story.

For more farcical and strange place names that will leave you slack jawed, have a look at www.strangeplacenames.com where the UK and Ireland keep their biggest and most bizarre secrets tucked away just a little too close for comfort.

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