Place Name

Standards, County Durham, England

Where the Standards Flutter on top of Standards!

Introduction:

Wey aye man, Standards. A name that sounds like it should belong to a corporate training course or a motivational poster, but instead it is a lonely hill in the middle of Teesdale where the only thing flutterin is the wind through your hair and the occasional startled grouse.

Folk hear the name and imagine rules, regulations and clipboards. What they actually find is a rugged landscape, a bit of bog, a lot of sky and a name that makes you grin because it feels like the hill is takin the mick. “Standards,” it says, as if challengin you to find any.

Legend has it the name came from medieval battle standards once raised on the ridge. Others say it was a mapmaker havin a laugh. Another tale claims the locals named it ironically, because the weather up there has absolutely none.

Whatever the truth, Standards stands tall, proud and slightly confused.

Toponymy:

Let’s slap thin one down:

Standards – Could refer to flags, banners or markers once used for navigation or battle. Could also refer to expectations, which this hill gleefully ignores. Some say it was a place where standards were literally raised. Others say it was where standards went to die.

A name that sounds official, important and slightly sarcastic. Perfectly Teesdale.

Historical Context:

The earliest mentions of Standards date back centuries, though the exact origin is as murky as a Teesdale puddle. Some believe it was a rallying point for medieval armies, where banners were raised before battle. Others think it was a boundary marker, a place where land divisions were agreed upon with a handshake and a sheep.

Another rumour claims the name came from a group of shepherds who joked that the hill had “standards” because it was the only dry spot for miles. The joke stuck, the name stuck and the hill has been confusing walkers ever since.

Today, Standards is a favourite spot for hikers, photographers and anyone who enjoys a good breeze strong enough to rearrange their face.

Points of Interest:

If you are knockin aboot, have a look at:

• Barnard Castle – Ruins, history and a view worth squintin at.

• High Force Waterfall – Roarin, thunderin and spectacular.

• The Bowes Museum – Art, culture and a mechanical swan that steals the show.

• Egglestone Abbey – Peaceful ruins with stories in every stone.

• The Teesdale Way – Walks, wildlife and scenery that raises your spirits even if the hill does not raise its standards.

Notable Figures:

Folk tied to Standards or County Durham include:

• George Stephenson – Railway pioneer and northern genius.

• William Wordsworth – Poet who loved landscapes like this.

• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Writer who adored a good mystery.

• Joseph Swan – Inventor who lit up the world.

• Stephen Fry – Visitor, wit and honorary northern spirit.

Conclusion:

So next time you find yourself at Standards, take a moment to enjoy the daftness of a hill that sounds like it should be markin exam papers. It is a place full of charm, humour and the kind of name that makes you smile even as the wind tries to blow you into next week.

For more wonderfully odd names across the UK and Ireland, flipper over to www.strangeplacenames.com where the daftest gems are waitin to be discovered.

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