_How do you pronounce Norfolk place names

You’re coming to Norfolk and looking at some of the placenames on a map. Wymondham – that’s got to be Why-mond-ham, right? Try Wind’m. Costessey - Coster-sea, yes? Try Cossey.

So, to prevent any potential embarrassment, take a look at our easy list of how to pronounce Norfolk place names…

Spelled               Pronounced

Acle                     Ay-kul

Ashmanhaugh     Ashm’no

Aslacton               Azlact’n

Belaugh                Beeluh

Bergh Apton        Ber Apt’n

Colney                  Coaney

Corpusty               Cor-puh-sti

Costessey              Cossey

Crostwick              Crossick

Deopham              Deep’m

Elsing                     Elz’n

Fulmodestone       Full’muhst’n

Gimingham           Gim’n’m (with a ‘hard g’)

Haveringland        Havverl’nd

Hautbois               Hubbuhss

Heigham               Hay-um

Hellesdon             Helzd’n

Keswick                 Kezzick

Matlaske               Matluhsk

Norwich                Noh-rich

Postwick               Pozzick

Rushall                  Rue-sh’ll

Salhouse               Sallas

Salle                      Saul

Shotesham           Shots’m

Stody                    Studdy

Swardeston          Swaw(d)st’n

Tacolneston         Tackle-st’n

Tivetshall              Tivvets’ll

Walsingham         Wolz’n’m

Wickmere             Wickmuh

Wortwell              Wuttle

Wymondham      Wind'm

Then there are names which we don’t all agree about. The disagreement comes from the fact that many place-names now have new spelling pronunciations. Here are the older pronunciations uninfluenced by the spelling…

 Spelled              Pronounced

Aylsham              Ellsh’m

Cley                     Clay, from the Anglo-Saxon name Claeg, meaning clay, but nowadays more commonly pronounced Cly, rhyming with eye

Coltishall             Colts’ll with Colt- rhyming with bolt

Foulsham            Fowlsh’m with Fowl- rhyming with soul

Garboldisham     Garbl’shm

Hoveton              Hofft’n

Hunstanton         Hunst’n

Letheringsett       Larnsuhtt

Martham             Mart’m

Northrepps         Nurrepps

Salhouse             Sallus/Selluss

Southery             Suddery

Southrepps        Surrepps

Stiffkey                Stewkey but nowadays Stiffkey

Walsham             Walss’m

Weybourne        Webb’n