Swallowhead Springs, Avebury

Swallowhead Springs 5

Image by tjj

Sanctuary Dec 7, 2012 13:15:34

Viewed from the air or a map, the Swallowhead Springs take the form of a Swallow's head, so that presumably is where the name came from...or does it? http://www.avebury-web.co.uk/avebury_map.html

If they were named prior to there being flight by aircraft or balloon then how did the name come about because you wouldn't gather it looked like a Swallow's head at ground level would you.

Thoughts?

tiompan Dec 7, 2012 13:45:08

Replying to Sanctuary

Sanctuary wrote:

Viewed from the air or a map, the Swallowhead Springs take the form of a Swallow's head, so that presumably is where the name came from...or does it? http://www.avebury-web.co.uk/avebury_map.html

If they were named prior to there being flight by aircraft or balloon then how did the name come about because you wouldn't gather it looked like a Swallow's head at ground level would you.

Thoughts?

The name Swallowhead is found elsewhere , e.g. Fylingdales but more importantly at springs . Rather than resembling a bird's head is it not a case that swallow derives from swell ?

tjj Dec 7, 2012 14:15:04

Replying to Sanctuary

Sanctuary wrote:

Viewed from the air or a map, the Swallowhead Springs take the form of a Swallow's head, so that presumably is where the name came from...or does it? http://www.avebury-web.co.uk/avebury_map.html

If they were named prior to there being flight by aircraft or balloon then how did the name come about because you wouldn't gather it looked like a Swallow's head at ground level would you.

Thoughts?

I often find myself referring to the very first book I ever bought about Avebury - The Secrets of the Avebury Stones by Terence Meaden. His theory is that Swallowhead is phonetically similar to Suilohead and may come from the same root as the Goddess name Sul.

juamei Dec 7, 2012 14:16:19

Replying to Sanctuary

Sanctuary wrote:

Viewed from the air or a map, the Swallowhead Springs take the form of a Swallow's head, so that presumably is where the name came from...or does it? http://www.avebury-web.co.uk/avebury_map.html

If they were named prior to there being flight by aircraft or balloon then how did the name come about because you wouldn't gather it looked like a Swallow's head at ground level would you.

Thoughts?

Aliens.

moss Dec 7, 2012 14:58:58

Replying to Sanctuary

Well it could really be to do with the swallowing of water or the disappearance of water over the summer period. There is a Swallowcliffe on Cranbourne Chase where the water disappears, and as tjj says swallet is very common in Somerset. Perhaps it is just a local name.

VBB Dec 7, 2012 15:45:12

Replying to Sanctuary

A water engineer talking on R4 around 2000-1 explained that swallow is a term adopted at sites where rainwater hasn't penetrated the ground deep enough to be filtered of bugs from animal poo - for swallow head read shallow spring. I have not been able to find any further refeence to it though.

It did make me wonder if those springs named swallow were all in sheep country. Anyone know?

Harryshill Dec 7, 2012 18:52:47

Replying to Sanctuary

Doesn't seem to be anything conclusive, but there again, thats probably because we don't have assess to information that might help us out or know where to look.

I'm betting there is a dusty old document somewhere, that would help us out here.