Place Name

Prick Moor, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Where the Moor is Prickly, and the Laughs are Sickly!

Introduction:

Ey up, Prick Moor. A name that sounds like a punchline, a dare, or a location from a bawdy folk song. Folk hear it and immediately imagine a moor full of thorns, nettles and plants that seem personally offended by your presence. Or perhaps they imagine locals with sharp tongues and even sharper humour.

Whatever the truth, the name is a belter. It is the kind of place name that makes you pause, blink and wonder if the map is takin the mick. But that is Yorkshire for you. If there is a chance to give a field a name that will make future generations snort into their tea, they will take it.

Toponymy:

Let’s break this one doon:

Prick – Could refer to prickly plants, thorns, brambles or the general sensation of wanderin through a moor that does not want you there. Could also be a nod to Yorkshire wit, which is famously sharp enough to cut through steel.

Moor – A stretch of uncultivated land, wild, open and full of character. The sort of place where the wind slaps you in the face and the heather whispers ancient gossip.

Put together, Prick Moor becomes a name that sounds like a warning, a joke and a geography lesson all rolled into one.

Historical Context:

The origins of Prick Moor are as tangled as the brambles that probably inspired it. Some say the name came from the prickly vegetation that once dominated the land. Others say it was a local joke that stuck harder than a burr on a woolly jumper.

Another tale claims the name was used to warn travellers to watch their step, their boots and their language. Whether true or not, the name has survived centuries of retellin, mishearings and embellishments.

Points of Interest:

If you are knockin aboot, have a look at:

• Barmby Moor Church – Peaceful, pretty and perfect for a wander.

• Allerthorpe Common – Wildlife, heather and the occasional prickly surprise.

• Yorkshire Air Museum – Aviation history with proper Yorkshire pride.

• Barmby on the Marsh – Quaint, friendly and full of character.

• The Black Swan Pub – A pint, a plate of scran and locals who will happily tell you their own Prick Moor stories.

Notable Figures:

Folk tied to Prick Moor or East Riding include:

• William Wilberforce – Yorkshire’s abolitionist hero.

• John Wesley – Preacher who travelled the region.

• David Hockney – Artist who sees colour where others see drizzle.

• Philip Larkin – Poet with a sharp eye and sharper wit.

• Barbara Hepworth – Sculptor inspired by Yorkshire landscapes.

Conclusion:

So next time you find yourself wanderin around Prick Moor, take a moment to enjoy the daftness of a name that sounds like a joke but hides a landscape full of charm, history and proper Yorkshire character. It is a place where the moor is prickly, the humour is sharp and the name alone is worth the trip.

For more delightful and downright peculiar place names, take a lollop over to www.strangeplacenames.com where the UK and Ireland have amassed a boat load of gems as brilliantly daft as Prick Moor.

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