Willowland.
A poem about the destruction of the flood meadows over hundreds of years along the River Mersey to the south of Manchester.
Notes on the geographical, the historical sources and the word derivations that inform the text.
“the castle in the wood” Stockport was derived from two Saxon words: “stoc"– a stockaded place or castle, and “port” – a wood. Literally, a castle in a wood. There is sufficient evidence that a stronghold existed in the vicinity in ancient British times as well as early Roman times.
“far stream” Goyt: may be derived from the Middle English gote, meaning "a watercourse, a stream”.
“dark river” Tameside: Tame. From the British (pre-Roman) "dark river", related to the Old Celtic "tam", Old Irish "teman", dark,
“north enclosure” Northenden: The original name Norwordine appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, made up of the Anglo-Saxon Norþ-worþign, for a north enclosure.
“knoll by the ford” Didsbury: A combination of the two Anglo-Saxon words Dyddi’s burg. It’s believed Dyddi refers to a man who had a stronghold on the area, while burg was a reference to a low cliff area which would perhaps later become part of what is now the River Mersey
“Ceolfrith’s farm” Chorlton: From the Old English personal name Ceolfrith and tūn, for settlement or farm, to create the name for Ceolfrith’s farm.
“All men are wise”. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceolfrith. -“The venerable Bede came into Ceolfrid's care at the young age of seven, and became the pupil of the Abbot as well as friend. By (686), the Plague had struck Northumbria, Ceolfrid and Bede appeared to have remained untouched by the epidemic, and took the duties of caring for the infected and dying monks of the monasteries with unyielding fervour.
“last farm up the road” Withington: Records in 1186 described the area as a willow-copse farmstead, which would later give it its Old English name Wīðign-tūn. A withy is a 'willow branch used for bundling'.
“sea river” Mersey: Its name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon mǣres, 'of a boundary' and ēa, 'a river'.. Its Welsh name is Afon Merswy, and it has been given the alternative etymology of Celtic môr-afon meaning "sea river”.
“Withies” From the willows that grew well on these flood meadows that gave a name to both Withington and Wythenshawe.
“parr” Parrswood: In the life cycle of the atlantic salmon, they spend two or thee years as parr, striped small fish in shallow watercourses, before swimming to the ocean.
"purple willows” Willows: The Common osier is a small willow tree that is found in fens and ditches, and on riverbanks. It has been widely cultivated and coppiced for its twigs, which are used in traditional basket-making. There are three willow tree species viminalis, often known as common willow. Salix purpurea, a popular willow known by a number of alternate names, including purple osier willow and blue arctic. Taken from Anglo-Saxon "Withigensceaga" meaning’ a small wood of withy (willow) trees') was noted for its rich fertile soil and, in the 13th century, went under the name of ‘Wythenshawe”
“Wilfred” Uncle Wilfred, much loved, found the company of adults rather difficult. To his nephews and nieces he gave a quiet and focused attention. A self taught polymath he showed, by keen observation, each plant and beast could be identified and named. His respect and knowledge of the natural world deeply affected those children he knew, and so shaped my life and their lives.
