Ebook A Handbook of Lancashire Place-Names

Perhaps with the publication of Professor Wyld's book I ought to have been satisfied and committed my imperfect labours to the waste-paper basket. But I have been other wise persuaded. The subject is a growing one, and finality will only be reached after the clash of varied opinions. I revised my manuscript and introduced a selection of names, of which I had not found mention in early docu ments. These names can only be explained by conjecture, analogy, and the application of guesswork. I hope the student will find their inclusion an aid to the knowledge of what remains to be done, and an encouragement to attempt it. The following is the arrangement of the work — The place-names are divided into two classes: those which have a simple evident second part or theme, and those whose second theme, even if it still exists, does not easily lend itself to discovery. After the introductory chapters come the first class, arranged under their second themes in order then the second class in alphabetical order. An Index follows, which I hope the student will find fairly complete.