Strange Place Names
UK & Ireland

Place Name
County
Ricketts Wood
Country
England
Decimal Degrees
w3w
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Google Map Link
Key Words
Ricketts Wood, Surrey, England
Where t ricketts hurt an t wood has t dirt!
Description: Wooded patch on Stan Hill in Charlwood near Horley, full o brambles, quiet dips, an a name that mek folk grin afore they’ve even said it out loud.
Introduction:
Alright then me duck, welcome te Ricketts Wood, a name that sounds like someone in Surrey tried te name a woodland while halfway through trippin ower a root, halfway through a brew, an halfway through wonderin if a wizard were lurkin behind t next oak. Folk hear it an gan “Ricketts Wood? Proper odd that,” an locals just smile like “aye, we’ve heard every joke under t sun.”
Maybe it came from a chap called Ricketts wanderin round charm‑in squirrels. Maybe it came from folk jokin about aches an pains after a long walk. Maybe someone simply liked daft names an wrote it down afore anyone could object.
Whatever happened, Ricketts Wood is pure Surrey whimsy wrapped in leaves, dirt, an names that mek ye chuckle wiout even tryin.

Toponymy:
Let’s take this name apart:
Ricketts – old surname, local lad, or t sort o name ye slap on a woodland wanderer who never stopped talkin te t trees
Wood – trees, shade, an t classic Surrey sprawl o greenery where ye lose yerself an yer sense o direction
Together, Ricketts Wood gives ye a name that makes visitors pause afore sayin it aloud, then grin like they’ve wandered into a countryside tale wi perfect timin.
Historical Context:
Earliest mentions o Ricketts Wood drift back te local lore. Some reckon it came from a resident who held court among t trees. Others say it were a nickname shouted across Stan Hill. Another tale sez villagers muttered “up Ricketts,” an t name stuck like dirt on boots.
Whatever t truth behind its name, Ricketts Wood endures as a place where logic politely steps aside te let Surrey humour shine.
Points of Interest:
Places worth a decko:
Stan Hill – views, breezes, an countryside calm
Charlwood Village – cottages, lanes, an village charm
Horley Town Centre – shops, scran, an lively bustle
Surrey countryside trails – wanderin, thinkin, an leafy peace
The Old Rectory – history, stories, an local heritage
Notable Figures:
Folk tied te Surrey:
John Keats – poet who cherished nature’s quiet
Alfred Lord Tennyson – writer shaped by southern landscapes
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – mystery maker wi county ties
J K Rowling – storyteller who wandered Surrey lanes
David Attenborough – voice o nature who’s roamed many a wood
Conclusion:
So next time ye find yerself at Ricketts Wood, tek a moment te enjoy t daftness o t name, t charm o t trees, an t way Surrey refuses te follow common sense.
Fer more places that’ll leave ye chucklin an ponderin language’s mysteries, wander yersel ower te www.strangeplacenames.com te keep t laughter goin.
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51.1733, -0.2456
DMS
51°10'24"N 0°14'44"W
Geographical Feature & Flora & Rude
Surrey
