Homer, Shropshire
Encyclopedia
Homer is a small village in Shropshire
, England
, north of the town of Much Wenlock
.
The name first appears in the 14th century as "Honemor". Originally common land
called Homer Wood, the settlement developed from squatters' cottages encroaching on the common during the 17th century. During the 19th century it served as accommodation for quarrymen and farm labourers.
The village expanded in the later 20th century with the construction of modern houses.
The Homerian, a stage of the Wenlock geologic epoch and Silurian
geologic period, is named after the village of Homer. The Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point
defining the stage is located in Whitwell Coppice near the village.
of Much Wenlock parish: its name, recorded in the Domesday book
as "Wigewic", is probably derived from an Old English personal name Wyga, along with wic, "settlement" ("Wyga's settlement"). It has also been spelt Wig Wig or Wigwick. There is a ford
across the Harley Brook here.
Wigwig once had a mill
on the Harley Brook; mentioned as early as 1291, it operated variously as a fulling mill and corn mill
but closed during the 19th century, although it is still referenced in the name of the Mill Farm nearby.
The villages' names inspired the title and main characters of a 1969 childrens' book by Philip Turner
.
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, north of the town of Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock, earlier known as Wenlock, is a small town in central Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford...
.
The name first appears in the 14th century as "Honemor". Originally common land
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
called Homer Wood, the settlement developed from squatters' cottages encroaching on the common during the 17th century. During the 19th century it served as accommodation for quarrymen and farm labourers.
The village expanded in the later 20th century with the construction of modern houses.
The Homerian, a stage of the Wenlock geologic epoch and Silurian
Silurian
The Silurian is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Ordovician Period, about 443.7 ± 1.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Devonian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya . As with other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period's start and end are well identified, but the...
geologic period, is named after the village of Homer. The Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point
Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point
A Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point, abbreviated GSSP, is an internationally agreed upon stratigraphic section which serves as the reference section for a particular boundary on the geologic time scale. The effort to define GSSPs is conducted by the International Commission on...
defining the stage is located in Whitwell Coppice near the village.
Wigwig
A short distance to the west of Homer is a very small hamlet with the unusual name Wigwig. Wigwig was an ancient townshipTownship (England)
In England, a township is a local division or district of a large parish containing a village or small town usually having its own church...
of Much Wenlock parish: its name, recorded in the Domesday book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as "Wigewic", is probably derived from an Old English personal name Wyga, along with wic, "settlement" ("Wyga's settlement"). It has also been spelt Wig Wig or Wigwick. There is a ford
Ford (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
across the Harley Brook here.
Wigwig once had a mill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
on the Harley Brook; mentioned as early as 1291, it operated variously as a fulling mill and corn mill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
but closed during the 19th century, although it is still referenced in the name of the Mill Farm nearby.
The villages' names inspired the title and main characters of a 1969 childrens' book by Philip Turner
Philip Turner
Philip William Turner is an English author best known for his children's books about the fictional town of Darnley Mills and about the Reverend Septimus Treloar.-Life:...
.