“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: Glamorgan, Pendine, Warminster | No Comments »
“Dr. Kinge deane of Christchurch, turned away one morninge fiue bakers and so many brewers of townesmen belongings to yt colledge, and hath priuiledged others and tuke them in their place, which if euery colledge should doe as I thinke we must, we should quickly bringe them to beggars bush.”
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The correspondence between Brian Twyne while the latter was at Corpus Christi, Oxford from 1601 to 1612 and his father, Dr Thomas Twyne, a prosperous physician living in Lewes, Sussex, echoes the dialogue between students and parents through the ages. Much of it concerns Brian Twyne’s lack of funds and advancement, and his father’s unwillingness or inability to assist him. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: March 16th, 2011 | Filed under: Writers | Tags: Annington, Brian Twyne, James Mabbe, John Taylor, Literary, Oxford, Sussex, Warminster | No Comments »
EPNS Wiltshire gives this name from papers of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. It also says these included Coldharbour, as Coleharborow, aka Gooseland 1609, which is recorded as La Goslonde as early as 1292,. The name does not appear on any later maps or records. The editors of EPNS describe it as a term of contempt.
The archivist at Corpus Christi College has been unable to trace any relevant papers. The phrase Beggars Bush was certainly known at Corpus Christi by 1609 as it is used in a letter dated 22nd October 1609 from Brian Twyne, a student there.
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Posted: March 13th, 2011 | Filed under: Places | Tags: Brian Twyne, Coldharbour, Oxford, Warminster, Wiltshire, derogatory, early sites, proverb | No Comments »
