Shelsley Walsh
Encyclopedia
Shelsley Walsh is a small village in Worcestershire
, England
at the top of a the western valley side of the River Teme
.
Its population at the time of the 2001 Census
was just 31, but the village's name is widely known among motorsport
enthusiasts because of its association with the Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb
, which has been run since 1905.
on a slope" from Old English scelf "shelf
(of land)" and leāh "wood, clearing
". The name was recorded as Scillislege in 948. The addition of Walsh to the name is from the surname Walsh
, which means "of the Welsh", from Old English
walas "Welsh
, foreigners". A record of the name as Shilsleywalish, undated, proves this.
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, 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...
at the top of a the western valley side of the River Teme
River Teme
The River Teme rises in Mid Wales, south of Newtown in Powys, and flows through Knighton where it crosses the border into England down to Ludlow in Shropshire, then to the north of Tenbury Wells on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border there, on its way to join the River Severn south of Worcester...
.
Its population at the time of the 2001 Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
was just 31, but the village's name is widely known among motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
enthusiasts because of its association with the Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb
Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb
The Shelsley Walsh Speed Hill Climb is a hillclimb in Worcestershire, England, organised by the Midland Automobile Club . It is one of the oldest motorsport events in the world, and is in fact the oldest to have been staged continuously on its original course, first having been run in 1905...
, which has been run since 1905.
Etymology
Shelsley Walsh means "clearingClearing
Clearing may refer to:* Glade , a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area* Deforestation, the clearing away of trees to make farmland* Clearing , the process of settling a transaction after committing to it...
on a slope" from Old English scelf "shelf
Shelf
Shelf may refer to:* Shelf , a flat horizontal surface used for diplay and storage* Shelf , a user interface feature in the NeXTSTEP operating system* Shelf, West Yorkshire, a village in England...
(of land)" and leāh "wood, clearing
Clearing
Clearing may refer to:* Glade , a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area* Deforestation, the clearing away of trees to make farmland* Clearing , the process of settling a transaction after committing to it...
". The name was recorded as Scillislege in 948. The addition of Walsh to the name is from the surname Walsh
Walsh (surname)
Walsh is an Irish surname, meaning "Breton," or "foreigner," literally "Welshman," taken to Ireland by the Welsh during the Norman Invasion of Ireland. It is most common in County Mayo and County Kilkenny. It is the fourth most common surname in Ireland, and the 325th most common in the United...
, which means "of the Welsh", from Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
walas "Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
, foreigners". A record of the name as Shilsleywalish, undated, proves this.