I love Norfolk place names. Reading a map of Norfolk is poetry in itself. So I’ve had a go at arranging some of these place names in verse form.
Norfolk Place Names
Day’s dawning in Horning, it’s breakfast in Trunch,
Porridge in Norwich; to Ludham for lunch;
Coffees in Toftrees, Tasburgh for tea.
Supper in Sustead, or Wells-next-the-Sea.
Briningham, Brinton, and Brisley and Briston,
Gressenhall, Gresham, and Grimston and Griston,
Earlham and Earsham, and Egmere and Eccles,
Bawsey and Bawdeswell, and Brockdish and Breckles.
Rain’s falling in Palling, a deluge in Diss;
It’s sodden in Loddon, but Blofield is bliss;
In Docking it’s shocking, in Guist there’s a gale,
But balmy in Barmer and Barney and Bale.
Gimingham, Trimingham, Bressingham, Lessingham,
Burlingham, Surlingham, Thwaite and Great Cressingham,
Wimbotsham, Whissonsett, Waterden, Wacton,
Binham and Banham, and Bagthorpe and Bacton.
Drinks? A beer by the Were, or try Swaffham for gin,
To Wiveton for wine, or a lager in Lynn;
Woodbastwick for Wherry, and Roudham for malt,
Or a nice glass of sherry in Holkham or Holt.
Mundford and Dereham, and Fritton and Yaxham,
Mundham and Wereham, and Witton and Waxham,
Bylaugh and Belaugh, and Dunton and Gunton,
Reepham and Reedham, and East and West Runton.
Alliteration’s your thing? There are villages flawless.
Witton-by-Walsham, West Winch, Stratton Strawless,
Barnham Broom, Barton Bendish, West Walton. Oh my!
Kirby Cane, Little London, Holme Hale, Cockley Cley.
Roughton and Houghton, and Gaywood and Gayton,
Hickling and Blickling, Billockby, Drayton,
Caston and Paston, and Marham and Marsham,
Overstrand, Sidestrand, North, East, and West Barsham.
It’s night-time in Knapton, near Martham they’re mooring.
The sun sets in Salthouse, lights off in Great Snoring.
Good night, Newton Flotman, Stow Bardolph and Salle,
Good night, Norton Subcourse, good night one and all.
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