birds « Salisbury and Stonehenge

Hawks Ridge, Harnham

By admin, on June 24th, 2011%

Hawks Ridge is on the Ridings Mead estate in East Harnham, just south of Salisbury.

As for most of the rest of the Ridings Mead development, the name of the road is formed by attaching the name of a bird (in this case a whole category of birds) to a geographical feature. Unlike many . . . → Read More: Hawks Ridge, Harnham

Heronswood, Harnham

By admin, on May 5th, 2011%

Heronswood is on the Ridings Mead estate in Harnham, to the south of Salisbury. In common with other roads on the estate, the name is a ‘portmanteau’ word. It’s constructed by joining the name of a bird to the name of a geographical feature.

Other local examples are Owlswood, Ravenscroft and Swallowmead.

The Heron

There . . . → Read More: Heronswood, Harnham

Kingfisher Close, Salisbury

By admin, on October 9th, 2010%

Kingfisher Close is on the Ridings Mead estate in east Harnham. Most of the roads in Ridings Mead are named after birds, and Kingfisher Close follows that theme.

The bird

Kingfishers have always seemed to me to be a magical bird – they seem to belong to another country, fitting in better with birds of . . . → Read More: Kingfisher Close, Salisbury

Martins Close, Salisbury

By admin, on January 14th, 2010%

Martins Close is on the Bishops Mead estate, to the south of Salisbury.

Other roads with the word ‘Martin’ in their name are references to Saint Martin, and in particular to Saint Martin’s Church. Saint Martin’s Church is to the south east of Salisbury city centre. The associated roads are St Martins Church Street and . . . → Read More: Martins Close, Salisbury

Owlswood, Salisbury

By admin, on April 12th, 2009%

A thatched owl in Harnham, Salisbury

Owlswood is on the Bishops Mead estate to the south of Salisbury.

The owls are, of course, particularly distinctive birds of prey. There are 200 species of owl, scattered through most of the world. 1

In today’s Anglo-American culture, I think it’s fair to say that the owl now . . . → Read More: Owlswood, Salisbury

Swallowmead SP2

By admin, on July 2nd, 2008%

Swallowmead like several or the other road names on the Riding’s Mead estate, is an invented word made by joining the name of a bird with the name of a geographical feature.

Swallow

There are many species of swallow, some of which are migratory and some of which are not 1. According to the RSPB, . . . → Read More: Swallowmead SP2

Swan Close SP2

By admin, on July 1st, 2008%

This was probably named after the Swan Inn which stood next to the river in Ayleswade Road, in Harnham 1

FootnotesBBC – Wiltshire – In Pictures – Historic Salisbury photos [↩]

Swiftdown SP2

By admin, on June 30th, 2008%

Swiftdown, like several or the other road names on the Riding’s Mead estate, is an invented word made by joining the name of a bird with the name of a geographical feature.

The swift is a migratory bird which stays in England from April to August, then spends the winter in Africa. 1

The word . . . → Read More: Swiftdown SP2

Wrenscroft SP2

By admin, on June 14th, 2008%

This is on the Ridings Mead estate to the south of Salisbury in which all the roads are named after birds – there is also Heronswood and Falconsway.

Wrenscroft is also the name of a Scottish traditional dance.

Salisbury and Stonehenge