Pleaslands - a true lonning
PLEASLANDS lonning near Blencogo, Cumbria is a 'real' lonning. A path to a farm. The word 'lonning' is thought to have come from the ancient word 'loan' meaning a quiet or still place and was the term used for the side of the farm where the milking took place. For villagers visiting the farm for milk or meat they would have taken a path up to the 'loan', hence lonning. Pleaslands lonning is one of those curiosities which is marked on the Philips' Street Map of Cumbria. Whoever compiled this street map obviously had a soft spot for lonnings. Neither Pleaslands nor the many others they include have a sign up saying that is the name but the cartographer must have sought out the farmers to find out what they called their lanes. Coming off Pleaslands Lonning is Stone How Lonning and Outfield Lonning but these appear to be 'private' lanes. Pleaslands itself is a well-used farm track but with sizeable hedges at many points giving good habitat to the local wildlife.
For details of this and other lonnings see Cumbrian Lonnings Map.
Just I thought on lonnings, Cumbria is an old welsh name for Wales, and the original Cumbrian settlers were related to the old Welsh settlers. The welsh for lane is lôn so possible the origins of lonnings, as welsh is a lot older language than English, therefore the word lane probably also comes from lôn, just thought this may be of interest. Dave.
ReplyDeleteGood point Dave- and I rather wish Cumbria was still in Wales!
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