Dozens of placenames in Welsh, some hinting at historic legends, others telling wealthy tales of how individuals used to stay, have been submitted to a mission designed to verify they’re preserved.
The Welsh authorities appealed for individuals so as to add historic names which may be lacking from on-line maps in order that they may very well be saved for future generations. Inside two weeks, about 200 submissions had been acquired, together with native Welsh language names for fields, hills and areas.
Among the many names submitted to date are:
Dôl y Tylwyth Teg (Fairy Folks Meadow/Fairies’ Meadow) in Aberfan, south Wales. The one that despatched the suggestion mentioned the sector was identified by the Welsh identify by individuals who spoke Cymraeg, the Welsh language. A close-by faculty that teaches via Welsh refers back to the subject by this identify and makes use of it for occasions.
Caeau Maelorddin (Fields of Maelor Metropolis) close to Aberystwyth, west Wales, are a set of fields close to Tanybwlch seashore. The contributor mentioned his late grandfather recalled many individuals referring to a bunch of now individually named fields as Caeau Maelorddin. They had been near Pen Dinas, the hill the place the enormous Maelor Gawr was mentioned to stay.
Ffynnon Glog (Rock Properly) close to Rhyd, in Gwynedd, north Wales, is a hidden effectively in a roadside financial institution, in keeping with the contributor. The water within the effectively was as soon as used as a treatment for illnesses and takes its identify from Y Glog, a distinguished rocky outcrop close by.
This yr, analysis discovered that the majority adjustments to property names don’t contain a change in language, however after they do they’re thrice extra more likely to be renamed from English to Welsh than vice versa.
Different Welsh authorities priorities embody issuing clearer steering for native authorities and organisations liable for placenames and commissioning analysis into the names of bodily options within the panorama, resembling hills and streams.
The federal government says the mission builds on work by mapping initiatives resembling Mapio Cymru and the Checklist of Historic Placenames, in addition to by public our bodies resembling Eryri and Bannau Brycheiniog nationwide parks.
The Welsh language secretary, Mark Drakeford, mentioned: “Placenames inform the story of who we’re and the place we’ve come from. These new measures will make sure that our Welsh placenames – from legendary mountains like Cader Idris to Felin Wen, an outdated mill that tells the story of a small group, are protected for future generations whereas making it simpler for everybody to become involved.”
Folks can submit placenames at datamap.gov.wales/survey/wpnc/
