Place Name

Lickham Bottom, Devon, England

If ye gan down te t woods today yer sure of a crackin surprise!

Introduction:

Alright then me duck, welcome te Lickham Bottom, a name that sounds like someone in Devon tried te name a valley while laughin so hard they dropped t map. Folk hear it an gan “Lickham Bottom? Proper cheeky that,” an Devon folk just smile like “aye, we’ve heard every joke under t sun.”

Maybe it came from wild garlic growin in t dip. Maybe it came from cows lickin everythin in sight. Maybe someone simply liked daft names an wrote it down afore anyone could object.

A wooded dip sittin south o Hemyock on Cornhill Road. Lickham Bottom is pure Devon whimsy wrapped in trees, slopes, an names that mek ye chuckle wiout even tryin.

Toponymy:

Let’s take this name apart:

Lickham – tied te “leac,” wild garlic, or te livestock wi curious tongues Bottom – low‑lyin hollow, wooded dip, an classic Devon valley term

Together, Lickham Bottom gives ye a name that makes visitors pause afore sayin it aloud, then grin like they’ve stumbled into a countryside joke wi perfect timing.

Historical Context:

Earliest mentions o Lickham Bottom drift back te old farm lore. Some reckon it came from garlic patches. Others say it were a cartographer’s mischief. Another tale sez folk simply liked whimsical names an stuck wi it.

Whatever t truth, Lickham Bottom endures as a place where logic politely steps aside te let Devon humour shine.

Points of Interest:

Places worth a decko:

• Hemyock Castle – ruins, tales, an medieval charm

• Blackdown Hills – views, walks, an breezy wanderin

• Devon Railway Centre – miniature trains, nostalgia, an county history

• Hemyock Village – cream teas, chatter, an local stories

• The Culm Valley Inn – hearty ale, scran, an Bottom‑related banter

Notable Figures:

Folk tied te Devon:

• Sir Francis Drake – sea captain born in Devon’s hills

• Agatha Christie – mystery maker wi county ties

• John T Smith – inventor o t cow‑lickin contraption

• J K Rowling – writer inspired by West Country corners

• Mary Anning – fossil hunter shaped by t region’s geology

Conclusion:

So next time ye find yerself at Lickham Bottom, tek a moment te enjoy t daftness o t name, t charm o t woods, an t way Devon refuses te follow common sense.

Fer more strange an wonderful oddities that’ll mek ye grin like a cow in a tuxedo, wander ower te www.strangeplacenames.com te keep t laughter goin.

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