Place Name

Foxhole, Cornwall, England

Where Soldiers and Foxes Hide to Rest and Abide!

Introduction:

Foxhole. Say it out loud and you can almost hear a Cornish local mutter, “yer, we’ve heard every joke.” It is one of those names that sounds mischievous, woodland‑y and a bit like a secret hideout, until you realise it’s a perfectly normal Cornish village with a perfectly abnormal name.

Folk hear it and imagine foxes loungin in burrows, soldiers crouchin in trenches or a children’s book about woodland diplomacy.

Whatever the truth, the name has been sparkin curiosity for generations, watchin visitors smirk at the sign, locals grin knowingly and the occasional hiker wonder if they’re about to stumble into a den.

Toponymy

Let’s break down this name:

Fox – The clever, cunning, ginger‑tailed legend of the countryside. Cornwall has plenty of them, and they’ve been wanderin these parts long before the first cottage was built.

Hole – A burrow, a dip, a hollow or simply a nook in the landscape. Cornwall is full of them, thanks to mining, geology and foxes who refuse to follow the rules.

Together, they form a name that makes visitors pause before sayin it aloud, then chuckle because it sounds like a woodland sitcom.

Historical Context

The name Foxhole appears in 19th‑century records tied to mining communities around St Austell. Some say it was named after fox dens in the area. Others reckon it came from miners describin a pit or hollow.

And if you ask an old lad in St Austell, he’ll tell you it was named after a fox who refused to move out of a mine shaft, even after bein politely asked.

Whatever the truth, Foxhole has survived mining booms, clay pits, storms, travellers, folklore, foxes, soldiers, comedians and generations of Cornish folk who know exactly how to embrace a name with cheeky charm.

Points of Interest

If you are wanderin about, have a nose at:

• The Eden Project – Biomes, rainforest and futuristic greenery.

• The Lost Gardens of Heligan – Magic, history and hidden sculptures.

• Charlestown – Tall ships, cobbles and cinematic charm.

• St Austell Brewery – Ales, stories and proper Cornish hospitality.

• Carlyon Bay – Cliffs, sand and coastal calm.

Notable Figures

Folk tied to Cornwall include:

• Sir John Betjeman – Poet with a love for Cornish quirks.

• Daphne du Maurier – Literary queen of Cornish atmosphere.

• Richard Trevithick – Steam pioneer and Cornish legend.

• Jethro – Comedian whose humour fits Foxhole perfectly.

• John Wesley – Preacher who wandered Cornwall’s lanes.

Conclusion

So next time you find yourself wanderin around Foxhole, take a moment to breathe in the countryside air, admire the rolling hills and enjoy the glorious absurdity of a place that sounds like a woodland hideout but feels like a warm Cornish welcome.

For more amusing and bizarre place names, take a glance at www.strangeplacenames.com where the UK and Ireland are bulging with places that make you go, “It’s called what.”

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