Strange field names

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Thu 19 Aug, 2010 7:33 pm

I've just been using the excellent "Tracks in Time" web site showing the tithe maps for Leeds. I was struck by some of the curious field names in Wortley - in particularNan Tan (Don't know where this comes from)GingerbreadGingerbread fieldThese were found near the juntion of Dixon Lane and the Whitehall road and were all owned by a man called James Bateson (I think).I can only assume the guy had a sense of humour back in the early 1800'sI must praise the people behind the "Tracks in Time" project - the tithe details for Wortley have not been added (except for the maps) yet but they kindly sent me a spreadheet for the area Ref:http://www.tracksintime.wyjs.org.uk/

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Thu 19 Aug, 2010 7:52 pm

Leeds Hippo wrote: I've just been using the excellent "Tracks in Time" web site showing the tithe maps for Leeds. I was struck by some of the curious field names in Wortley - in particularNan Tan (Don't know where this comes from)GingerbreadGingerbread fieldThese were found near the juntion of Dixon Lane and the Whitehall road and were all owned by a man called James Bateson (I think).I can only assume the guy had a sense of humour back in the early 1800'sI must praise the people behind the "Tracks in Time" project - the tithe details for Wortley have not been added (except for the maps) yet but they kindly sent me a spreadheet for the area Ref:http://www.tracksintime.wyjs.org.uk/ I think "Nan Tan" may be to do with the way sheep were counted. Only a thought - shepherds had their own counting system and I think I've heard nan tan before in this respect.

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Thu 19 Aug, 2010 7:59 pm

Johnny39 wrote: Leeds Hippo wrote: I've just been using the excellent "Tracks in Time" web site showing the tithe maps for Leeds. I was struck by some of the curious field names in Wortley - in particularNan Tan (Don't know where this comes from)GingerbreadGingerbread fieldThese were found near the juntion of Dixon Lane and the Whitehall road and were all owned by a man called James Bateson (I think).I can only assume the guy had a sense of humour back in the early 1800'sI must praise the people behind the "Tracks in Time" project - the tithe details for Wortley have not been added (except for the maps) yet but they kindly sent me a spreadheet for the area Ref:http://www.tracksintime.wyjs.org.uk/ I think "Nan Tan" may be to do with the way sheep were counted. Only a thought - shepherds had their own counting system and I think I've heard nan tan before in this respect. On reflection I may have got it wrong. Just checked Wikipedia and they say "Yan Tan", but confirm it was an old English shepherds way of counting.

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Thu 19 Aug, 2010 8:45 pm

Johnny39 wrote: Johnny39 wrote: Leeds Hippo wrote: I've just been using the excellent "Tracks in Time" web site showing the tithe maps for Leeds. I was struck by some of the curious field names in Wortley - in particularNan Tan (Don't know where this comes from)GingerbreadGingerbread fieldThese were found near the juntion of Dixon Lane and the Whitehall road and were all owned by a man called James Bateson (I think).I can only assume the guy had a sense of humour back in the early 1800'sI must praise the people behind the "Tracks in Time" project - the tithe details for Wortley have not been added (except for the maps) yet but they kindly sent me a spreadheet for the area Ref:http://www.tracksintime.wyjs.org.uk/ I think "Nan Tan" may be to do with the way sheep were counted. Only a thought - shepherds had their own counting system and I think I've heard nan tan before in this respect. On reflection I may have got it wrong. Just checked Wikipedia and they say "Yan Tan", but confirm it was an old English shepherds way of counting. Wonder if it's a reference in a child's story book (like the gingerbread man) - can't believe it refers to Nantan Meteorites!http://www.arizonaskiesmeteorites.com/A ... index.html

Patexpat · Post by **Patexpat** » Fri 20 Aug, 2010 8:38 am

My dear old dad could count in 'old Yorkshire' ... and I'm pretty sure it was Nan, tan, tither .... ? then my memory goes!

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Fri 20 Aug, 2010 8:57 am

The counting rhyme does seem plausible - I found a fascinating link to the descendent of the owner and the land around Nan Tan - I might try contact them to see if they can shed some lightRef:http://www.oswild.org/hobnob/family/joh ... eson2.html

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Fri 20 Aug, 2010 7:14 pm

Johnny39 wrote: Johnny39 wrote: Leeds Hippo wrote: I've just been using the excellent "Tracks in Time" web site showing the tithe maps for Leeds. I was struck by some of the curious field names in Wortley - in particularNan Tan (Don't know where this comes from)GingerbreadGingerbread fieldThese were found near the juntion of Dixon Lane and the Whitehall road and were all owned by a man called James Bateson (I think).I can only assume the guy had a sense of humour back in the early 1800'sI must praise the people behind the "Tracks in Time" project - the tithe details for Wortley have not been added (except for the maps) yet but they kindly sent me a spreadheet for the area Ref:http://www.tracksintime.wyjs.org.uk/ I think "Nan Tan" may be to do with the way sheep were counted. Only a thought - shepherds had their own counting system and I think I've heard nan tan before in this respect. On reflection I may have got it wrong. Just checked Wikipedia and they say "Yan Tan", but confirm it was an old English shepherds way of counting. No - I agree with Leeds Hippo - don't give up on this theory Johnny!!The change from 'Yan Tan 'to 'Nan Tan' is slight and very plausible over time -and there were(are?) dozens, if not hundreds of regional variations - see article here - very interestinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yan_Tan_Tethera