Beggars Bush: A Perambulation through the Disciplines of History, Geography, Archaeology, Literature, Philology, Natural History, Botany, Biography & Beggary

Pendine, Glamorgan Beggarsbush 1699

“Geasse way, beggarsbush” is recorded in 1699 (NLW Cwrtmawr 862). “Geasse” may be “goose”. Geese were walked to markets in flocks.

There is also a Gooselands recorded as an alternative for Coldharbour, a cognate name to and near Beggars Bush at Warminster, Wiltshire. The goose~ may derive from occupation by geese but may be another derogatory name. Goose meaning simpleton is known from 1547.  This would fit with the literary use of the phrase Beggars Bush as a place to which people went through their own folly. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted: April 10th, 2011 | Filed under: Places | Tags: , , | No Comments »