Places features

Laurie Croad, Park Gates East, Poole
A local road-name defies research - no-one knows where it comes from - "Twemlow Avenue", built between the world wars.

BOB LANE
The most wonderful local bus route I've ever travelled,Weymouth to Beer in Devon along that marvellous coast road, the stupendous vista , from the little hut at Seaton as you go out of town on foot to Beer, you can see Portland. Beer is a very nice clean, tidy village, plenty of money there but still welcoming!

PETER BALLAN
I Lived in Buckhorn Weston, and it had the beautiful name of Windlebrook Cottage,Shepherds Hill, Buckhorn Weston, Gillingham. It was right on the river Windle, had a badger sett nearby, and was a dream situation. Had to re-locate to Devon, and this was ALMOST as good for rural countryside. Lush, green and no neighbours ! WONDERFUL!

PETER BALLAN
HARROBARROW, SEEMS TO RING A CHORD OF FAMILIARITY

mike bushell
Briantspuddle

Robert from Australia
Has anyone heardof a place that looks like on the census as Bisofont or Biofont or something similar?Thanks

Deb
I love Puddletown! Thanks for the extra ideas guys- I'm having quirky Dorset names for the tables at my wedding in 3 weeks time!

ewe-man
Some one should make ive been to shitterton t-shirts

Lewcee42
Owz about "Cat Hole Barn" which is near Shipton Gorge. And don' fergit, Chideock iz zed "Chiddick", and NOT "Chidd-eee-ock"!

Andrew James
I have lived in Dorset all my life, so far. One of my favourite village names in this county is Whitchurch Canonicorum near Bridport. But probably the most uncomfortable place to be is Scratchy Bottom, west of Lulworth!

betsy
i live in scratchy bottom!!

Shawna
Am an American living in Oxon, went to Dorset for the first time last weekend, really love it. My fave name we came across was 'Speen'.

Heather Earley
9 OUT OF 10 for a nostgalgic Dorset native in LA. Great fun for me. What about Sodom Lane in Marnhull for a laugh?

laura
I used to live in happy bottom when i was small. its a great plcae hidden away and was like a small community. it was brilliant.

sally
what is the meaning of Tarrant in a place name

sam napper
From Dorchester, I think Shitterton is the funniest named viiage in dorset. Dad would like to start a new village called Piddlepuddle! If some one would sell him some land!

Phil
9/10. How about 'Ryme Intrinseca', found near the Somerset Border?

Noo
I got 8/10, not bad for a northerner, although lived in dorset for 10 years. Great county!

Ocean
I live in Poole. I got 7 right. I am 12!!

Annabelle
I only visit Dorset for holidays at Golden Cap and i got 10/10 cool eh?

beast
dorset is the best place to sail

Sam
What about Droop, Hazelbury Bryan OR Preston, Weymouth

Norman
Born in Somerset, never lived in Dorset, have spent the last 50 years in the US - still got 9/10 on the quiz. Not bad for 86!

Norman Slade
Melbury Bubb

donna
8 out of 10 not bad for dorset lass.

mary
what about Blackmanston, Steeple near Kimmeridge

charlotte
It would be a good idea to do a quiz on the more uncommon names such as Map Powder-what do you think of that? :-)

vicky
How about Troytown near Puddletown? Sounds like somewhere where Noddy should live!

vicky
i have lived in dorset for over 25 years and only got 7 right but isnt there there a Nettlecombe near Cheselbourne? Great quiz. Any chance of some more? I live in Cerne Abbas and i love it!

Joe
I live in Worcestershire and have never been to Dorset in my life. I scored 9/10. Strange!

Claire
I scored 9/10 - i should think so too, lived in b'mth area for my whole life! How about Happy Bottom for a great place name?

anita
Well i must say that i didn't do as well as i thought(7 out of 10) but then i have been living away from Dorset for over 20 yrs now & live in a place called Stranraer,We don't have such wierd & wonderful names up here but some are darned hard to pronounce when you are English like me, Keep up the good work Love the Site

taylor smith
i scored 10 out of 10 on the placenames quiz and i'm only 12!! wot bout u?? portland isn't really a funny place but i have lived ere 4 all of my life n i luv it and i wouldnt move if u payed me!!

keith Meaden
I am a Canadian but proud to have lived in Ryme Intrinseca for my first 20 years

Leah
i friend moved to child oakford just after she had a child

Stuart L Ruffell
I scored 9/10 - which is just as well as i've lived in Dorset all my life! How about Stour Provost, just round the corner from where I live in West Stour? Or Fifehead Magdalen, Kington Magna, Buckhorn Weston, Lydlinch, Bagber, Wonston, Droop, Mappowder Ansty...

Jim
The puddle in Piddle came right up to me middle! I got flushed in Plush & when I went on the Beer I could'nt Hackett..Love the Quiz..We got 9 outta 10.

emily and becca
we got 4 outa 10

Harry Goodwin
I live in Happy Bottom, Corfe Mullen Wimborne Dorset

Cassie
A bit hard for children perhaps make a childs version

Wolfgang Radschiner
I am from Austria, but I love the Purbeck Island. The funniest placename for me was Furzebrook. In German "Furze" means "a lot of farts. So for me it meant a brook making strange noises ;-)

perry hewitt, Dorchester
Toller fraturnum (vally of the brothers) Toller Pocorum (vally of the Pigs)

cathy harris
I had quite a giggle doing this quiz and did not know that there were so many funny place names in Dorset

Charlotte
My gran lives in wool and i used to live in stourpaine and i am only 12. I love to go to lulworth castle and lulworth cove and the weymouth carnival when i stay at my grans. when we go to lulworth castle we go on thejurassic bus and i make my mum and sister sit at the top with me, last time i got smacked in the head with a branch but i'm ok now. My dad can't go on the bus as he has back problems so he stayed at grans. i got 10/10 lol.

Henry Duke
I have lived almost all my life in Maiden Newton but I was born in Piddlehinton - people never believe me when I tell them that (unless they know West Dorset). The other great thing about places in Dorset - some are just a few buildings and populations in the 10s or 20s such as Wraxall, Notton and Chilfrome. Place names that I have always liked are Swire, Rodden (especially Rodden Barn Farm), Bench and Ryme Intrinseca (sounds great when said with a thick Daaarrrset accent :oD )

Tim Fruin
i've lived in Oz for 38 years, have'nt been back for 20 & feel very nostalgic!

Tony Gibbs
I'm an exbrit living in London, Canada. Although I've been in Canada now longer than I lived in England I have been back many times and have wonderful memories of the times I stayed at Lulworth.

Jo and Qwot
That was good light entertainment. Got 9/10 wiv a few guesses!! Never heard of some of them despite us both always living here.

ashley pollard
i got (8/10)and iam only 6 years old.bibibibi

David M Singleton
Not bad for an exile in Houston! I haven't lived in Dorset for more than 45 years, though I have been back to visit.

andy leitch
ive lived here 20 years and only got 7 right, ive a friend named bryan howe, every time i see him i ask him how do you get to hazelbury Bryan, to which he replies, its near milborne st, Andrew, we never tire of it, i think everyone else does.

Bethany
I love Durdle Door! I look over the cliff side And sometimes I draw pictures of what I can see!

fay dance
place name- puncknowle

Carol P
I got 10/10 but must admit I guessed the one which was "Burnt Bottom" as I'd never heard of it. I lived in West Lulworth for 18 years and love the place.

Jozka
I love coming home to Dorset, and think myself lucky that have grown up in this wonderful place. I love Weymouth!

charlotte white
my favourite place name in rhyme intrinseca, so my so, we have just nemed our baby daugher Trinseca. My husband and i are both swanage born and bread. I've loved the place name of rhyme intrinsea since i was a kid and saw it on a yetties album cover!

Mike Groves
I went to school in Lyme Regis but have lived away for several years. I remember Puncknowle being pronounced as 'Punk knowle' instead of 'Punnel'on a radio programme many years ago. Also there is a folk song about Courting around Dorset (excellently sung by John Waltham from Sherborne) that mentions many of the quirky Dorset names.

Trevor Bailey
Doesn't matter where you go, it always feels good to get back to Gods own county.

Paul C-A
I left Dorset (Bridport) over 40 years ago and am pleased to say I got a 7.

Chris Hazelwood
Born in Dorset many years ago - how about Knackers Hole between Sturminster and Hazelbury Bryan

Kev
'Happy Bottom' (Corfe Mullen) is some distance from 'Scratchy Bottom' as you would expect :-)

Wayne Morris
I lived in Stourton Caundle for a number of years, in fact my parents still live there> I now live in Ontario Canada and had a great time doing the quizz (8/10) Only in England can you find such great names of villages.Although I have lived here for 26 years now I still consider England a great place, and am pleased to be able to read local news from there. Thankyou.

diane roberts swange
Lived in swanage my life got 7/10

Nick Power
I've only lived in Dorset for 20 mins and got 9/10!

Alan Pearson
A driver was trying to deliver a parcel to my home in Ibberton and mangaed to find the village but not the cottage. He stopped in the middle of the village (actually about 50 yards from where I lived) and asked a passing lady on horseback, "Do you know Ibberton well?" He was astounded and amused by her reply: "No, but Belchalwell is about 2 miles down the road!!"

Alan Pearson
Now living in Spain but previously lived in Ibberton for about 9 years and before that Lytchett Matravers & Bournemouth. Dorset is a wonderful, beautiful county and I should stress that we din't leave the UK because of Dorset, just had to get away from Britain, which I fel is going down the pan, in fact, is almost all then way around the bend. BTW - Ibberton is at the bottom of Bulbarrow Hill, near to previously mentioned Wooland and about 10 miles from Blandford Forum.

andy willsher
the sign is on the road comeing in to dorchester i think it is good to see some places i know as i live in thailand now with my son and wife both english

P.May
I live in Bingham's Melcombe! it is near the ansty isn't it and i like piddletown

Paul Brickell
Toller Pocorum Whitchurch Canonicorum Shitterton (Bere Regis)

Helen Hinge
I got 7/10, my parents live in Bridport. One of my favourites is Eype, it sounds like the noise a baby chick might make. Can't help 'Eyeping' every time I see the sign!

Dave Sandall
You perhaps forgot that there is also a Nettlecombe near Shaftesbury!

MICHELLE PURDIE
HAVING LIVED IN AUSTRALIA FOR SIX YEARS I WAS PLEASE WITH MY RESULTS OFTHIS TEST !

Jeff Scoynes
I use to live in Woolland near Hazelbury Bryan. Now I live in Atlanta USa I found this fun an a reminder of where I grew up

Sally Crabb
My favoutite placename in Dorset is Whitchurch Canonicorum closely followed by Wooton Fitzpaine

Jennie
I've lived in Dorset for 25 years and i got 7/10.

Audrey TRIM
i WAS BORN IN TODBER IN DORSET AND NOW LIVE IN A SMALL HAMLET IN mARGARET mARSH BOTH IN DORSET....A BEAUTIFUL COUNTY

aline Aline johnson
I think dorset was brilant this year becaus it was so BIG I COULD NOT BELiEVE MY EYES.

christopher blachford
I was born in a vullage called WITCHAMPTON in dorset . witch was called this due to some witches liveing here many years ago

Jan Boardman
What a good quiz,it certainly made me think.My favourite place name is Witchampton because it sounds mysterious.

Paul Dunn
Whitchurch Canonicorum must be the one that many people have a job to pronounce. Tis in the wilds of West Dorset, tucjed along the lanes from Charmouth.

Richard
What about Puncknowle

Susan E
I am Dorset born and bred. I have been lucky enough to travel extensively but nothing, absolutely nothing compares to Dorset. Dorset the most beautiful, peaceful, simply exquisite place on the planet. I lived there all my life until I moved abroad but I always know I am 'home' when back in Dorset. Fave places: Horton, Holt, Milton Abbas and Wimborne: Fave Names: Slepe, Lilliput, Scratchy Bottom.

Stephen Mullen
I love the coast from West Bay to Chideock to Charmouth and Lyme Regis

Stephen Mullen
My favorit place name is:Shitterton near Bere Regis

phoebe
I live in walditch in bridport

Brenda Lang
We spent 4 weeks in Dorset this summer.(from Canada)The kids loved all the different names and the ways they were pronounced. The kids thought that a farm we visited had a great name "Hell Farm".They had a good laugh.

Christine
I live on Portland, but i was born in Devon, I enjoyed the quiz, I think Piddletrenthide is one of the best, people just do not believe it exists

maureen allen
I like Lulworth Cove, my father lived there as a child and we often visited Gran,in School lane West Lulworth.Went back on a day trip this July, bit more commercial but still beautiful views

Richard Randall
Great fun ,lived in Dorset a long time ago.

Monika Maage
Dorset is graet the people, the landscape everithyng. Ilove living here.

Daun Reynolds
I love Dorset. I especially Love Portland. Dorset is a really great place to be.

Michael Kowalewski
Melbury Bubb - it features in the Dorset writer John Cowper Powys and John Betjeman's poem on English place names.

ann harding
I like the river Piddle

Debbie James
Great Quiz. I got 9 out of 10 and i live in London but my ancestors were from Dorset and maybe they were helping me!

Lesley West
I have only lived in Dorset for three years but I go 9 out of 10! Working for the County Council probably helped.

Pat from London
I like the name Tincleton - very musical!

Reginald Crumple
I like Whitchurch Canonicorum. What's that all about eh?

James Ascott
I've lived in Dorset my whole life and I only got 7/10 on the Dorset placename quiz. Are you sure you guys at the BBC didn't just make those names up. Well I'll be jiggered.

Robbie Whiting
Great quiz. my favourite Dorset placename is Scratchy Bottom near Durdle Door. I live in Suffolk.

Sue Tsirigoti
Actually its Ryme Intrinseca no H! I lived there!Lovely to hear all those names again. Lots of important history out of Dorset too like the Tolpuddle martyrs.

mike
i love slepe

Bob Brown
My wife and I (both from NZ) spent a couple of years in England and many many hours were spent just looking at placenames on the map! My favourites from down that way (sorry, my memory of where the county borders are is failing) are Gweek, Chipshop & Beer!

Maxi Peck
I like Hazelbury Brian

Pete Thompson
Shitterton is pretty cool as a name, but not as a place

Liz B
There is a Happy Bottom in Corfe Mullen!!

steve
shitterton is next to bere regis. Buckland Ripers i heard of it had to work the once. Rampisham isnt that were the radio masks are west of dorch? try finding clayford>

Ben Farmer
I'm from Piddlehinton! :-)

Monika Peck
How about Sixpenny Handley

Charlie
Nicodemus Knob on Portland

Eve Baker
I think it's great that Bingham's Melcombe is right next to Melcombe Bingham.

Eve Baker
There's a Scratchy Bottom near Durdle Door.

Susie Roberts
How about 'Scratchy Bottom'! It makes my kids laugh.

Val Ghose
Rhyme Intrinseca - can you believe that one. Wonderful!Keith - Toller Porcorum is definitely Dorset, and so is nearby Toller Fratrum.

Gordon Osmond
I like Holnest. My family came from there 400 years ago.

K.G.Johnson
good quiz-ow bout SHITTERTON?

Linda Rieder
Myself I find Fipenny Hollow fascinating.Any idea where the name comes from?

Paul Boundy
How about Colpeppers Dish or Shitterton

Nicola White
I live in one of the Smallest Hamlets in Dorset with a great old Dorset name: Buckland Ripers, hardly anyone has heard of it!

Keith hart
I like the name Toller Porcorum (or is that just over the border into Somerset?) I also like Happy Bottom, near Merley.

Pam Swattridge
Rampisham is my choice for unusual Dorset placenames because I live there and nobody ever seems to know where it is!