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Village's three-way spelling 'a harmless quirk'

Alex Popein Yelden
News imageAlex Pope/BBC A village sign, saying Yelden, on capital letters, with two emblems either side of the sign. A village can be seen in the distance and grass below the sign. Alex Pope/BBC
The official spelling for the Bedfordshire village used by the parish council is Yelden

The spelling of a village name in three different ways on road signs is a "harmless quirk", according to its parish clerk.

The small village in north Bedfordshire is signposted as Yelden, Yielden and Yieldon.

David Brough, clerk and proper officer of Melchbourne and Yelden Parish Council, said all the spellings had been around for centuries.

"It's a harmless quirk that adds a bit of character to the place," he said.

News imageAlex Pope/BBC A large green and white road sign, with different place names on, with a lorry driving along the road. A blue sky can be seen above, a grass verges either side of the road. Alex Pope/BBC
On the A6 by Sharnbrook, the village is spelt Yielden.....
News imageAlex Pope/BBC Two road signs with different names on them, one brown saying Historic Church. There is a road behind the signs and trees in the distance. The sky is blue. Alex Pope/BBC
... but just a few metres away, also on the A6, is it spelt Yieldon

In neighbouring Northamptonshire, the spellings of Yielden and Yelden appear on two signs just metres away from each other.

Mr Brough said: "The name pops up as Yelden or Yielden, depending on where you look.

"Both spellings have been around for centuries, so it's just part of the village's history."

According to Bedfordshire Archives, hosted by Bedford Borough Council, the river running through the village used to be called the Ivel, and the name meant "Ivel valley",

However, the river is now known as the Til.

It said: "Even today the alternative spelling of Yielden is sometimes used."

It listed its variations over the years:

  • Giveldene: 1086-1273
  • Giveldon: 1220-1246
  • Gyueldon: 1220-1247
  • Gieuleden: 1227
  • Chivelden: 1242
  • Gyuelden: 1247-1346
  • Gyueldene: 1247-1346
  • Yueldene: 1315
  • Yevelden: 1316-1660
  • Yeveldene: 1316-1660
  • Yelden: 1392 to date
  • Yealdon: c. 1600
  • Evelden: 1603
  • Yeavelden: 1660
  • Yelding: 1675
  • Yeilden: 1765

Historic England spells it Yielden as it is was where "Yielden Castle", now the site of a scheduled monument, used to stand.

"The monument is located in the valley of the River Til, on the eastern side of the village of Yielden, and includes the remains of a medieval castle mound with baileys to the north and west, and a series of banked and ditched enclosures arranged along its eastern side", it said.

News imageAlex Pope/BBC Two road signs, by a busy road. One is white with black writing on, the other is green. There are trees, a field to the left and cars on the road to the right. Alex Pope/BBC
A road sign in Rushden, Northamptonshire, shows it as Yelden

A spokesman for Bedford Borough Council said it was aware of the different spellings, and some years ago asked for clarification from the parish council, which stated it did not have a preference.

"The local road signs in Bedford Borough use the spelling as 'Yelden', the roads in Northamptonshire use both 'Yelden' and 'Yielden' and the spelling by Highways England on the A-road was 'Yieldon'," he said.

"Where signs are replaced, we will be using 'Yelden' as the spelling for this village."

News imageAlex Pope/BBC Two dirty road signs, covered by brambles with greenery around them. They show the distance to two villages. Alex Pope/BBC
And in the nearby Northamptonshire village of Newton Bromswold, Yielden appears on one sign and Yelden on another

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