The drop-in sessions, held at Neuadd Talwrn and Y Ganolfan, Llanbedrgoch, invited local people to share and discuss the historic place names of the Anglesey Fens and surrounding areas. 

The aim? To gather names - field names, forgotten names, nicknames passed down through generations - and get them recorded on the List of Historic Place Names of Wales, a digital archive that helps preserve this part of our cultural heritage. 

The days were full of conversation. Tables were covered in old and modern maps, which quickly became launchpads for memories, stories, and thoughtful debate. We welcomed people of all ages and backgrounds – some who had known these places their whole lives and others who had only just moved to the area and wanted to learn more. A shared love of local heritage brought everyone together. 

And the names? They were fantastic. Some were poetic, others practical. A few were real head-scratchers. Bedd y Wrach (The Witch’s Grave) in Talwrn and Tafarn y Wrach (The Witch’s Pub) near Cors Erddreiniog got us wondering what sort of witchy goings-on the past might be hiding. 

One that really stuck with us was Llyn yr Wyth Eidion at our Cors Goch reserve - “the lake of the eight oxen.” According to local memory, a farmer once tried to cross the fen with a sled pulled by eight oxen. Differing versions of the tale suggest that the farmer was either working on a Sunday, which should have been a day of rest, or that he was abusive to his oxen and was whipping them. In both versions, the oxen lost control and were driven into the lake, pulling the farmer and his cart with them and drowning them all. It’s a dramatic tale, and a good reminder that many names have deep roots in real events, or in stories powerful enough to be passed down. 

Altogether, we gathered 922 names, which have all been added to the List of Historic Place Names of Wales. People also brought along old maps and documents to help us trace how names had changed over time. It was another reminder that names aren’t just about geography – they hold clues about culture, land use, and the people who’ve shaped this landscape over generations. 

The enthusiasm in the room was the most striking part. People cared. And those newer to the area were just as keen to learn the original names so they could better connect with the land. As one attendee pointed out, when a historic name is lost or not easily available, people tend to create new ones, which are often based on description. Over time, the original meaning disappears. 

That’s why this matters. These names are part of the living history of the landscape - full of stories, identity, and meaning. They remind us that nature isn’t just a backdrop to our lives, but something we have named, shaped, and been shaped by.  

Join us at our next place names events, meet the team, and help preserve the place names that matter to you.