Place Name

Upperthong, West Yorkshire, England

Where t’ name is a stretch and might make thee wretch!

Introduction:

Nah then, welcome to Upperthong, perched abaat 807 feet up, starin down at t’ valleys like a king on a hill. Folk hear t’ name and instantly start smirkin, wonderin if they’ve wandered into a saucy postcard shop instead of a Yorkshire village.

Truth is, Upperthong comes from Old English meanin upper narrow strip o’ land, makin it t’ lofty sibling of Netherthong down t’ hill. One can only imagine early settlers stood round a map, pint in hand, sayin, “Reyt, that one’s upper, that one’s nether, job done.” Yorkshire efficiency at its finest.

Sayin Upperthong aloud feels like tryin to pronounce summat while steppin on a Lego brick. Rolls off t’ tongue like a Yorkshire pud rollin off a plate, and if tha’s not careful, it’ll land reyt in thi lap.

Toponymy:

Let’s break this name to bits:

Upper – lofty, high up, posh as owt, suggestin t’ crème de la crème of geography

Thong – narrow strip o’ land, Old English, nowt to do wi’ underwear, though tha’ll hear plenty o’ jokes

Put together, Upperthong becomes a name that makes folk pause, grin and wonder if Yorkshire’s just takin t’ mick again.

Historical Context:

Earliest mentions o’ Upperthong go back to t’ Domesday Book, when folk were namin places wi’ long stories and even longer vowels. Could’ve been a mistake. Could’ve been tradition. Could’ve been someone wi’ a wicked sense o’ humour. Whatever t’ truth, Upperthong has stuck like stubborn toffee on a rainy day.

Folk arrive ready to speculate whether logic ever played a part or if someone just pointed at t’ hillside and said, “Aye, that’s Upperthong, lad.”

Points of Interest:

Places near Upperthong worth a decko:

• Holmfirth Vineyard – wine, views, fancy as owt

• Peak District National Park – hills, sheep, mud, and more hills

• The Picturedrome – independent cinema, proper charm

• Old Bridge – historic, scenic, perfect for a snap

• Last of t’ Summer Wine Tour – nostalgia, laughs, Yorkshire gold

Notable Figures:

Folk tied to West Yorkshire who’d have summat to say abaat Upperthong:

• David Hockney – Bradford lad, colours bright as a sunrise

• Barbara Hepworth – Wakefield sculptor, Yorkshire curves and shapes

• Sir Patrick Stewart – Mirfield legend, theatre royalty

• Alan Bennett – storyteller, tea drinker, Yorkshire treasure

• J B Priestley – playwright wi’ razor Yorkshire wit

Conclusion:

So next time tha finds thissen in Upperthong, tek a moment to admire how geography just shrugs and does what it wants. A name daft enough to spark giggles, yet wrapped in history, charm and proper Yorkshire character.

For more wonderfully absurd delights, wander over to www.strangeplacenames.com   where UK and Ireland are full o’ names dafter than a pigeon wearin a bobble hat.

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