The Naming of Rivers, Brooks and Bridges

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These bridges had speaking countenances. Every projection in each was worn down to obtuseness partly by the weather, more by friction from generations of loungers, whose toes and heels had from year to year made restless movements against these parapets, as they stood there meditating on the aspects of affairs.

The Mayor of Casterbridge, Thomas Hardy

Why Rivers , Brooks and Bridges need names:

However often we have looked upon them, it can be surprising how few of us know the names of local streams – ‘the brook’ often suffices in our daily round. Most small rivers and streams are unnamed on maps. Yet if we name something, in some way, we own it, or feel some sense of responsibility. This can be a first step to raising the profile of something we take for granted, understanding it better, cherishing it more. Once our brooks have names, it is easier to tell stories about them, they become more valued. The same is true of bridges and many of them provide ideal spots from which to look at the water and the fish below and to contemplate life’s passing.

Names carry meaning, raising questions about their derivation. The name of a brook usually tells us something about it, the problem may be that it is in another tongue – we tend to forget that English has been forged over centuries from language after language persisting, displacing or welding itself to the next. The name translated may be descriptive of geography, ownership, event or personality.

In north Dorset, for example there are some beautiful chalk streams and many slower moving but volatile streams drain the clay vale. Stour means ‘strong or powerful one’ warning of how a seemingly languid river on clay can become a frightening torrent in just a few hours after rain. Tarrant, on the chalk, seems to imply trespasser – and like the Allen, it often emerges after the rainy season in its upper reaches to flow along the road…. or has the road taken advantage of the winterbourne bed? The word avon (afon) simply means river.

Anyone can start the idea of naming – an individual, civic society, local environmental group, community group, parish council. The important thing is to begin by asking others to join in the process of finding out names, procedures, helpers, sources of funds, histories.

In selecting a bridge the following questions need to be taken into consideration:

There is quite a lot of interesting investigating to do. The following may be of help:

You will first need the blessing and support of the Parish, Town or Borough Council where the bridge is situated. Talk and write to the Clerk outlining your proposal. Include an itemised budget and how much money you are hoping the Council will contribute, if any. Ask them to consider the scheme at their next meeting.

If the name of the stream/river or bridge is unknown, ask them if they know of any landowners or residents who might.

In Fontmell Magna, the Parish Council and other residents had no name for the bridge we were planning to work on so they decided to adopt the name used by the County Highways Department.

Once you have written support in principle from the local Council, you can approach the County Council.

Road bridges over rivers and streams are the responsibility of the Highways and Transportation Department of the County or Borough Council. It is their duty to repair and take care of them. A dossier on each bridge will be kept and each bridge will have been named by the engineers. (These names may not coincide with the locally known names or ‘official’ names given on maps).

You will need to establish if this bridge is suitable in terms of conservation (is it a listed building or ancient monument) and safety. If the letter cutter is going to work on the bridge then his/her safety from the traffic needs to be worked out. Public and personal liability insurance is something to discuss with the various councils, they may be able to extend their cover or include the activity with their own - remember they do this all the time.

If the bridge is listed (Grade I, II* or II) you may need to obtain Listed Building Consent from the Local Planning Authority. You may contact the Local Council’s Conservation Officer for advice.

If the bridge is scheduled as an ancient monument you will need to obtain scheduled monument consent from the Secretary of State. You are advised to contact English Heritage’s Archaeological Inspector in the first instance.

You will also need to seek permission from the County or Borough Highway Authority.

Underpinning the idea of naming the streams is a desire to help people understand which catchment they are in and to work to reinforce the particularity of the place. Creating a letterform (font, typeface) for your valley, which can be shared by all others who over time might wish to join in the naming of their rivers and brooks, will need careful thought, discussion and planning. This will be the ‘signature’ for the whole catchment. Check that this has not already been created – ask Common Ground or the County Council if they know of other projects.

If you are the pioneers for your valley we ask that you contact Common Ground in Shaftesbury – we shall keep a register of catchment alphabets. It is important to ensure that the alphabets are sufficiently different especially in adjoining valleys.

Common Ground may be able to advise on who to approach for help in finding a good typographer, calligrapher or letter cutter.

Take a look at the many different kinds of old and new lettering in the locality – from milestones to gravestones. Take any examples or ideas along to the calligapher you wish to commission. Ask to see examples of their work, either in their workshop or in situ. Discuss possibilities.

After the valley alphabet has been chosen or ‘invented’ a letter cutter will be needed to accomplish the work, this could of course be the same person. You may decide on a good monumental mason or a sculptor. The aim should be that the etched names should last for a hundred years and more (another good reason to combat acid rain) so it is important to leave a legacy of work that is of the highest quality.

Ask to look at examples of the work of possible letter cutters. If a letter form has been established, ask if they can work to this.

If there are complications about cutting into the bridge, think about other subtle ways of achieving your goal. Plaques or metal plates may be appropriate, but they are more vulnerable to vandalism or theft and often too bold. People who are walking, riding, cycling spend quite a lot of time looking at the ground. Perhaps a stone could be carved in the ground or pavement – care must be taken, since softer stones will erode more quickly from feet, rain and frost in the horizontal position, seek advice on the robustness of the bridge stone.

Stones beside bridges are a possibility. It is best to use the same stone or brick as the bridge. The Highways Department often have a supply of replacement stone or they may be able to locate a small quarry from which small quantities can be purchased.

Writing a brief: make a list of what you want – the name or names you have chosen, required size of lettering along with the letter form for the catchment (if this exists); where the lettering should be placed; whether the bridge itself is to be carved or work can take place in the workshop; if new stone is needed ask for the cost of it and of placing it in the bridge; liaison details with the Highway Authority; make sure the letter cutter is insured for on site work.

Costings: Think about the letter cutter’s fee, insurance, administration costs and documentation such as photography. When the letter cutter has provided you with an estimate for his/her work you will then be in a position to put together a funding application. Rough costings for letter cutting work in Dorset range from £7.40 for one 3-inch letter to £18.00 per letter.

Contracts: once the funding and all the permissions are secured you can draw up a contract. Perhaps this can come from the Parish Council or other body.

This, of course, should have happened first! Ask the people of the place – parish elders, the local council, landholders, community groups. Current OS maps tend to include only the names of the main rivers and the larger tributaries. Different and early editions OS maps, tithe maps of the 1840s or farm or estate maps contain sporadic detail, local historians may have spent time researching Saxon Charters, medievalists may be able to translate the meaning of names. Ask for help from your local County Record Office, archivists and the Environment Agency.

Enjoy the time spent finding out what people know – local people and far away professionals all have something to give to the discovery of names. There may be several names for one stream over time and in space, there may be local spellings and pronunciations. You must work to choose the name which many can agree upon, whether it is the oldest, the one in common use now, the important thing is to know why you choose it.

Fontmell Magna has its own Village Archive, containing hundreds of documents, photographs and maps - how wonderful it is to have documentation about the place close at hand. Records often have to be kept in the County Town since specialized conservation techniques may be required, but access to them is not easy from twenty miles away.

Information about the history of your chosen bridge may be hard to find, especially if the bridge is not listed. Suggested sources are:

Local people, Parish Records, County Council’s Highways Department, District Council Planning Department, County Record Office, Local History section of your library, local history societies, retired council surveyors and engineers.

Apart from putting on local fundraising events it is worth making a first approach to the following: local charities/societies, Community Action Fund; Parish Council; District Council; County Council; Regional Arts Board; Environment Agency; Countryside Agency and the Local Heritage Initiative.

Arts Council for England (for addresses of Regional Arts Boards), 14 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3NQ +44(0)171 333 0100).
Countryside Agency, John Dower House Crescent Place, Cheltenham, Glos GL50 3RA +44(0)1242 521381).
Crafts Council, 44a Pentonville Road, Islington, London N1 9BY +44(0)171 278 7700).
English Heritage, 23 Saville Row, London W1X 1AB +44(0)171 973 3001).
Environment Agency, Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4OU +44(0)1454 624400).
Local Heritage Initiative, Acorn Centre, 51 High Street, Grimethorpe, Barnsley S72 7BB +44(0)1226 719019).

1. Celebrating Local Distinctiveness, Sue Clifford and Angela King (eds) Common Ground 1994.
2. English River Names, Eilert Eckwall Oxford University Press 1928.
3. English Stone Building, Alec Clifton-Taylor & A.S. Ireson, Gollancz, 1983.
4. Rivers, Rhynes and Running Brooks - Local distinctiveness and the water in our lives, Sue Clifford and Angela King, Common Ground, 2000.
5. Lettercutting in Stone, Richard Grasby, Anthony Nelson, 1989.

County books, eg:
Discover Dorset Bridges, David McFetrich & Jo Parsons, Dovecote Press, 1998.
Dorset Bridges: A History and Guide, A.J. Wallis, Abbey Press Sherborne, 1974.
English Place Name Society County Volumes.

Common Ground is starting a register of Valley Alphabets - catchment letter form ‘signatures’. Please keep us informed of your activities.

The Naming of Brooks and Bridges is a national project has been launched in Dorset as part of Confluence. Confluence is a pioneering project encouraging people to join in making music for the River Stour as it rises in Somerset and Wiltshire and flows southward through Dorset to the sea at Christchurch.

Between 1998 and 2001, Confluence, which involved a composer in residence, Karen Wimhurst and music animateur Helen Porter, worked with existing music groups - choirs, classical ensembles, silver and jazz bands, school and youth groups - and encouraged new ones, helping people of all ages and musical abilities, especially young people, to compose, sing and perform their music for the river. Read more HERE.

In 2007, inspired by our work on bridge & brook-naming, Action Ribble Estuary worked with local schools and artists to create a named bridge over Eaves Brook in Preston, Lancs. You can read more about this project HERE.