How Your House Can Provide A Link To Your Cultural Past  

There's no question that English house names can add prestige. Some names evoke grandeur such as The Lodge or Orchard House and some conjure up rural idylls such as Rose Cottage or Honeysuckle House. But in some parts of the UK, a name adds more than just charm or prestige; it can be a direct expression of cultural identity.

The Emerald Isle

Many house names in Ireland reflect the land and culture. While some names merely reflect the lay of the land such as Abbey View located near the ruins of a Medieval Abbey, others have deeper meaning. Aisling House for example refers to a type of poem in which Ireland is portrayed as a beautiful woman in distress. Aisling means dream or vision and is used as a girls' name in Ireland. Ard na Gréine is another house name found in Ireland. Ard means height, and na gréine means of the sun, which could translate as 'Sunny Heights'.

The Welsh Dragon

In Wales, house names have become a bone of contention as some English people buy second homes or holiday homes and change the Welsh names to English.

There are concerns over losing the traditional Welsh culture. An example is Llwyn Gwion Fawr being changed to Meadow Farm.

Some Welsh residents are eager to encourage people to respect their heritage and the importance of maintaining the Welsh language. As a result The Welsh Language Board now issue a welcome pack for newcomers which includes an emphasis on keeping traditional names on houses. Many English buyers felt they couldn't pronounce or spell the traditional names - such as Crug Iwan Fawr - and so language initiatives have been set up to help non-Welsh speakers find what their house name means, how to pronounce it, and even the history of the house.

The Channel Islands

Over in the Channel Islands, place and house names are often vestiges of the Norman past and its language. Known as patois, or Norman French, the dialect is dying out but can still be traced in names. In Guernsey, most place names are still French such as Bordeaux or Petit Port.

Surnames also bear witness to their cultural past with Le Page, Mauger and Duqeumin being quite common.

The local patois does however still survive in the court houses of the Channel Islands where aspiring legal eagles have to study Norman Law in France to join the bar.

And there are still legal quirks that islanders can exploit - if for example they feel their neighbour is infringing on their property they can raise a 'Clameur de Haro'. The Clameur entails falling to your knees in front of witnesses, crying "Haro, haro, haro! A l'aide mon prince, on me fait tort" (Help me, my prince, I am being wronged). This direct appeal to the sovereign means the neighbours must go to court to sort out the matter.

So holding onto your cultural heritage can be quite useful if your neighbours are giving you trouble!

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