Place Name

Temple Hill, Cornwall, England

Where the Crows Squawk, and the Hill doth Balk!

Introduction:

Temple Hill, that be a name that sounds like it belongs in a wizard’s spellbook. Folk round yer will tell ee all sorts about how it got its name, from lost temples to Templar knights who fancied a good view.

But the Truth is, nobody knaws for certain, and the locals bain’t in no hurry to spoil the mystery. What matters is that Temple Hill stands proud above the moor, watchin travellers puff their way up like sheep on a steep slope.

Toponymy:

Let’s break down this name:

Temple – A word that conjures grand halls, holy relics and folk in robes mutterin important things. In Cornwall, it usually means the Templars passed through once and left behind a name bigger than the place itself.

Hill – Straightforward as a pasty on a plate. It be a hill, plain and simple, but callin it Temple Hill gives it a bit of swagger.

Together, they make a name that sounds dramatic enough to summon a genie, even if it be just a windy lump of land with a cracking view.

Historical Context:

The tale of Temple Hill be as foggy as Bodmin Moor on a winter mornin. Some reckon the Knights Templar used this spot for meetin, prayin or hidin treasure. Others say the name were slapped on by someone who fancied makin the place sound grander than it were.

Whatever the truth, Temple Hill has stood through storms, sheep stampedes and more lost hikers than anyone cares to count.

Points of Interest:

If you be wanderin about, have a nose at:

• St Tudy Church – A medieval gem with peace thick as clotted cream.

• Blisland Village – A proper Cornish village with a pub that serves pasties worth singin about.

• Golitha Falls – Water rushin through the woods like it be late for somethin.

• Bodmin Moor – Wild, windy and full of tales that will make ee look over yer shoulder.

• The Jamaica Inn – Smugglers, ghosts and a pint that warms the bones.

Notable Figures:

Folk tied to Temple Hill or Cornwall include:

• Daphne du Maurier – Writer who captured Cornwall’s shadows and secrets.

• Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch – Literary mind with a heart full of Cornish pride.

• Richard Trevithick – Steam pioneer who put Cornwall on the map.

• John Betjeman – Poet who loved this county like a warm pasty.

• J. K. Rowling – Found magic in the Cornish air.

Conclusion:

So next time ee find yourself on Temple Hill, take a moment to breathe in the moorland air and listen to the crows squawkin like they own the place. It be a reminder that Cornwall loves a name with a twist and a hill with a tale.

And if ee fancy more names that will tickle yer ribs and twist yer tongue, float like a feather over to www.strangeplacenames.com where the UK and Ireland be bursting with oddities that will have ee grinnin like a village idiot.

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