Brilliant. Yes, you first did the aforementioned hike from “10 Adventurous Walks in the South Chilterns” in September ‘98. I retraced your footsteps some 22 years later.
Wow - where do the years go?! It’s never left me what the author of that book said about the name of Skirmett! Now I’ve got the resources of this production company, I just had to investigate it!
I love your confidence on the camera. As a RUclipsr I know how difficult it is to be natural and humorous. I wish your channel much success in 2025 as it is quickly becoming one of my favourites. Keep up the quirky humour, I think it’s fantastic!
@WC21UKProductionsLtd I'm not a great Antiquarian like you, but the humour keeps me coming back. It's nice to hear about our roots, whether it be Vikings or not. I'm glad you got some semi decent weather. I've not been out for ages. I don't mind getting wet when I'm out there, but over the last few months, I've been like a drowned rat. Must get back on it before we get those three days of Summer.
Wonderful! It's very close to my childhood home of Bourne End. Happy days! If I remember correctly, there was a very good pub(ish)-restaurant in Fingest, called The Barn. I wonder if that still exists...A joy to see a proper antiquarian re-visit my childhood haunts - about time!
Thank Matt! What a wonderful area this is. I know The Chequers in Fingest used to be great. Unfortunately I didn't get time to sample it on this visit, but The Bull and Butcher at Turville was a nice return - combining all the key elements of a traditional British village pub: great beer; low beams and really rude service!
Thanks Ron. I really enjoyed making this video as that valley and its little villages has long appealed to me. The assertion that the names there are as English as you can get has long bugged me - there is some Viking there - albeit very faint and well-disguised!
@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Hi Darren, thanks for asking, I'm well, but it's a very difficult time for us right now as we've just suffered a bereavement in the family and I'm with my Mum right now who is also unwell. I've more or less disconnected from RUclips and the instathingy for the moment until things are more settled but I did get chance to watch this one and now have an opportunity to comment. For me there is only one Hambledon and that's the Hampshire one just north of Portsmouth where I am right now. Famous for being the cradle of cricket and developing the first laws of the game in the Bat and Ball pub, which is still there, did the Danes get this far south? It's an interesting question as to how places are named and how they evolve, I was aware of the Sk origin but I'm not sure why I knew that. I'm starting to get a grasp of the Roman origins of many Spanish names which are still used today and in fact I used to work in Cartagena whose name goes further back to Carthage (I still work there but from home). They have an interesting festival in September where they re-enact battles between Romans and Cartagenians, half the town seems to dress up and belong to one legion or another, not sure if there is a tweed legion ..... If there isn't it's clearly an oversight on there part. As to frontiers if you look closely at the map you will see many places names with "de la frontera" after them as in Jerez de la frontera (Sherry being the English for Jerez - look closely at that bottle at the back of your cupboard!!). Frontera being Frontier. Each of these places were named as they were reconquested. A lot of Arabic enters the place names too, a common start of a river name being guadal as in Guadalquivir one of the longest rivers in Spain, guadal being Arabic for water!! So yes a fascinating investigation thoroughly enjoyed watching. All the best!!
@@davidberlanny3308 Hi David, I am sorry to learn about your loss. My condolences to you and your family. Yes, the other Hambledon - with a "don", as opposed to a "den" - crooked, or flat topped hill. I don't think I've ever been there, but I'm aware it's very nice. I think if I was to explore Spain it'd be the Muslim heritage that would absorb me. Not sure why, but I find the fact that it was once a Muslim country absolutely fascinating. Possibly a bit like my interest in Roman Britain - it's the complete loss of things formerly strong that intrigues me. And then finding the remnants that have survived. Don't blame you for switching off from RUclips and the likes. It will all still be here for you, when you are ready. Best Wishes Darren
Thank you! Yes, I was pleased to win this argument and it was worth the day’s filming and associated travel! The Chilterns remains a very beautiful area, despite its proximity to London. Glad that came across in the video.
What delightful viewing that made for! Those villages are almost obscenely picturesque, and beautifully captured with your arsenal of video gizmos. At 5:49 after "This is going to rock the experiment to its very core!" I felt like a "It's time to step things up a gear!" was imminent. Yes Skirmett definitely sounds Norse to me - I think I remember being told at school that the word "skirt" derives from Norse. What a very handsome looking pub the Bull and Butcher was! ...and I do like Brakspear's Bitter (even though they inexplicably rebranded it as "Gravity"). Dare I ask about the interior? I think you make a very interesting point that the Danelaw describes an area where the laws of the Danes were in force, but it doesn't necessarily mean all of those areas were extensively settled by the Danes. So perhaps you and "That Bloke" could both be right? Perhaps the people of the Chilterns at the time of the Danelaw remained very Anglo-Saxon genetically, but did submit to the legislative side of things? I think there have been some projects to map the DNA of people in different regions of the UK, that might offer further evidence one wy or the other.
Thank you Tweedy! I think you would largely approve of the interior at The Bull and Butcher - it’s very rustic around the bar area - naturally there is a Farrow and Ball restaurant extension, as is required in all Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty! I had forgotten about the surly landlord, but I can confirm that he is as authentically English as he ever was! Grumpy landlord threw me when he asked if I meant “Gravity” when I asked for a pint of Brakspeare’s. Fortunately, whilst they may have introduced this silly new name, I can confirm it tastes the same as it always did. The, “rock the experiment to its very core” was for Mrs. WC21 (UK) Productions Ltd. She’s a great fan of Married at First Sight Australia and every episode ends with that statement. So she tells me! That’s a really good shout about the DNA analysis - I will have a look to see if I can find anything about it. I was born in Kent and was surprised to have around 25% Scandanavian in my DNA. Jumping back to the pubs, I think this valley might have potential for a Tweedy Pubs, with fine old pubs in Hambleden, Turville and Fingest. There’s one in Skirmett too, but I can’t remember what it’s like inside. The Chequers in Fingest used to be nicely old school inside - hopefully that hasn’t changed!
Hi Darren. Great to see you down my neck of the woods. The Hambledon Valley is idilic (outside of the tourist season) and full of excellent walks (and pubs!). Thank you for explaining the origin of the village names and debunking some ill informed Norse associations. 👏👏👍😀🍺 Keep up the good work!
Thank you Andrew! Yes, I love the Hambleden Valley - remarkable countryside so close to London. Glad you enjoyed it and I’ve got some more planned in the Chilterns this year.
It really is my pleasure and thank you kindly. I hope you are keeping well and managing to avoid the tidal wave of Wansdyke as a prehistoric canal type videos that seem to be populating my feed at the moment!
That’s a really interesting point. It’s odd that there are these 2 meeting places so close together. My thoughts are that they might not be contemporary with one another - perhaps they moved it. The other thought is that this valley runs down to the Thames and we know that the Danes attacked Wessex from that direction, so possibly linked to that period. Great to have these mysteries embedded in the place names. Thanks for watching and engaging. Always appreciated.
I loved that video! Thank you so much for all your research and hard work. I am catching up with your older videos, having been directed to your channel by one of your fellow vloggers (?!) Is that even a word ? 😉 Your subjects are so interesting as a lovely uncle of mine , along with my maternal grandmother, got me fascinated by history and lots of walking in various places. It's all a long time ago but i loved looking for clues, so to speak 👌 I've walked and taken in my surroundings from my days wearing "jumping jack" toddler walking shoes, to grown up walking boots 🤗 As a teenager, my sister used to go on digs in Essex with largish groups but i didn't get the chance to do that as i had other commitments at the time. Anyway, thank you so much for your brilliant videos 👍
Thanks Christine - that's lovely feedback. I really enjoyed making this video as it is an area I have known, and been fond of, for a long time. My Grandmother was a huge influence on me. Bestowing a deep regard for British landscapes and history. I think of her often when I'm out making these videos.
@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Your grandmother certainly was an enormous influence on you; it shows, that's for certain 💯👌 Yes, it's amazing how the memories flood back when out and about. I was in the Peak District a little while ago, doing nothing outstanding but just walking in New Mills and remembering her company....and her inimitable walking stride 😊 Thanks WC21 👌
I chuckled through a lot of the wonderful vid, thank you Darren.. Highly entertaining and informative as per. I wonder if the border between the Norse and English held lands ebbed and flowed on occasion leading to a fusion of cultures in villages that sat immediately on said border ?
Thanks Phil! Yes, I suspect there was some ebbing and flowing in this area! It’s interesting that there are the 2 villages, so close together, both with the assembly place thing going on. I’m sure the Thames provided a natural border between the English and the Norsemen once matters were settled between them. Also fascinating that the Norse customary laws carried on for centuries in areas like this.
@@WC21UKProductionsLtd I've posted this to my FB page, hopefully it'll gain you more views Darren. I have many Canadian and Aussie friends who enjoy anything eccentrically English ...Not calling you an eccentric antiquarian ...but...well 🤣.
"From the Thames , up the river Lea to its source, then straight north to the Ouse at Bedford. Then following the Ouse to Watling Street. Thereafter, following the Street to Wroxeter " Danelaw in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles
Brilliant. Yes, you first did the aforementioned hike from “10 Adventurous Walks in the South Chilterns” in September ‘98. I retraced your footsteps some 22 years later.
Wow - where do the years go?! It’s never left me what the author of that book said about the name of Skirmett! Now I’ve got the resources of this production company, I just had to investigate it!
I love your confidence on the camera. As a RUclipsr I know how difficult it is to be natural and humorous. I wish your channel much success in 2025 as it is quickly becoming one of my favourites. Keep up the quirky humour, I think it’s fantastic!
Thank you - such nice comments and hugely encouraging! Cheers and Happy Christmas.
Always great to see a video from you Darren. Love it. Thanks for sharing the bashing of the OGs.
Thank you Chris! Despite the occasional sleet showers, this was a lovely day in the Chilterns and I’m glad you enjoyed it.
@WC21UKProductionsLtd I'm not a great Antiquarian like you, but the humour keeps me coming back. It's nice to hear about our roots, whether it be Vikings or not. I'm glad you got some semi decent weather. I've not been out for ages. I don't mind getting wet when I'm out there, but over the last few months, I've been like a drowned rat. Must get back on it before we get those three days of Summer.
Wonderful! It's very close to my childhood home of Bourne End. Happy days! If I remember correctly, there was a very good pub(ish)-restaurant in Fingest, called The Barn. I wonder if that still exists...A joy to see a proper antiquarian re-visit my childhood haunts - about time!
Thank Matt! What a wonderful area this is. I know The Chequers in Fingest used to be great. Unfortunately I didn't get time to sample it on this visit, but The Bull and Butcher at Turville was a nice return - combining all the key elements of a traditional British village pub: great beer; low beams and really rude service!
A great history lesson and views of villages I have not seen before. Your knowledge amazes me. Thank you.
Thanks Ron. I really enjoyed making this video as that valley and its little villages has long appealed to me. The assertion that the names there are as English as you can get has long bugged me - there is some Viking there - albeit very faint and well-disguised!
Hi Darren, that was a classic ending, really cheered me up. I'll comment on the excellent video soon. All the best!!
Thanks David and hope you are well!
@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Hi Darren, thanks for asking, I'm well, but it's a very difficult time for us right now as we've just suffered a bereavement in the family and I'm with my Mum right now who is also unwell.
I've more or less disconnected from RUclips and the instathingy for the moment until things are more settled but I did get chance to watch this one and now have an opportunity to comment.
For me there is only one Hambledon and that's the Hampshire one just north of Portsmouth where I am right now. Famous for being the cradle of cricket and developing the first laws of the game in the Bat and Ball pub, which is still there, did the Danes get this far south?
It's an interesting question as to how places are named and how they evolve, I was aware of the Sk origin but I'm not sure why I knew that.
I'm starting to get a grasp of the Roman origins of many Spanish names which are still used today and in fact I used to work in Cartagena whose name goes further back to Carthage (I still work there but from home). They have an interesting festival in September where they re-enact battles between Romans and Cartagenians, half the town seems to dress up and belong to one legion or another, not sure if there is a tweed legion ..... If there isn't it's clearly an oversight on there part.
As to frontiers if you look closely at the map you will see many places names with "de la frontera" after them as in Jerez de la frontera (Sherry being the English for Jerez - look closely at that bottle at the back of your cupboard!!). Frontera being Frontier. Each of these places were named as they were reconquested. A lot of Arabic enters the place names too, a common start of a river name being guadal as in Guadalquivir one of the longest rivers in Spain, guadal being Arabic for water!!
So yes a fascinating investigation thoroughly enjoyed watching. All the best!!
@@davidberlanny3308 Hi David, I am sorry to learn about your loss. My condolences to you and your family.
Yes, the other Hambledon - with a "don", as opposed to a "den" - crooked, or flat topped hill. I don't think I've ever been there, but I'm aware it's very nice.
I think if I was to explore Spain it'd be the Muslim heritage that would absorb me. Not sure why, but I find the fact that it was once a Muslim country absolutely fascinating. Possibly a bit like my interest in Roman Britain - it's the complete loss of things formerly strong that intrigues me. And then finding the remnants that have survived.
Don't blame you for switching off from RUclips and the likes. It will all still be here for you, when you are ready.
Best Wishes
Darren
That was a good bit of one-upmanship 🤣🤣. Beautiful area.
Thank you! Yes, I was pleased to win this argument and it was worth the day’s filming and associated travel!
The Chilterns remains a very beautiful area, despite its proximity to London. Glad that came across in the video.
What delightful viewing that made for! Those villages are almost obscenely picturesque, and beautifully captured with your arsenal of video gizmos.
At 5:49 after "This is going to rock the experiment to its very core!" I felt like a "It's time to step things up a gear!" was imminent.
Yes Skirmett definitely sounds Norse to me - I think I remember being told at school that the word "skirt" derives from Norse.
What a very handsome looking pub the Bull and Butcher was! ...and I do like Brakspear's Bitter (even though they inexplicably rebranded it as "Gravity"). Dare I ask about the interior?
I think you make a very interesting point that the Danelaw describes an area where the laws of the Danes were in force, but it doesn't necessarily mean all of those areas were extensively settled by the Danes. So perhaps you and "That Bloke" could both be right? Perhaps the people of the Chilterns at the time of the Danelaw remained very Anglo-Saxon genetically, but did submit to the legislative side of things? I think there have been some projects to map the DNA of people in different regions of the UK, that might offer further evidence one wy or the other.
Thank you Tweedy! I think you would largely approve of the interior at The Bull and Butcher - it’s very rustic around the bar area - naturally there is a Farrow and Ball restaurant extension, as is required in all Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty! I had forgotten about the surly landlord, but I can confirm that he is as authentically English as he ever was!
Grumpy landlord threw me when he asked if I meant “Gravity” when I asked for a pint of Brakspeare’s. Fortunately, whilst they may have introduced this silly new name, I can confirm it tastes the same as it always did.
The, “rock the experiment to its very core” was for Mrs. WC21 (UK) Productions Ltd. She’s a great fan of Married at First Sight Australia and every episode ends with that statement. So she tells me!
That’s a really good shout about the DNA analysis - I will have a look to see if I can find anything about it. I was born in Kent and was surprised to have around 25% Scandanavian in my DNA.
Jumping back to the pubs, I think this valley might have potential for a Tweedy Pubs, with fine old pubs in Hambleden, Turville and Fingest. There’s one in Skirmett too, but I can’t remember what it’s like inside. The Chequers in Fingest used to be nicely old school inside - hopefully that hasn’t changed!
The Hambleden Brook maybe there until late summer this year, I did some work for the society who look after it. Great video!
Thanks Hedley! Is that because of the amount of rainfall we’ve had over the winter?
@WC21UKProductionsLtd indeed. The water table is high and there is a 3 month lag from rainfall to stream
It’s nice when the brook flows through the summer there. Mrs. WC21 (UK) Productions Ltd once enjoyed a paddle on a very hot day.
Hi Darren. Great to see you down my neck of the woods. The Hambledon Valley is idilic (outside of the tourist season) and full of excellent walks (and pubs!). Thank you for explaining the origin of the village names and debunking some ill informed Norse associations. 👏👏👍😀🍺 Keep up the good work!
Thank you Andrew! Yes, I love the Hambleden Valley - remarkable countryside so close to London. Glad you enjoyed it and I’ve got some more planned in the Chilterns this year.
Got me thinking !!
Oh no, sorry about that! Hope you’re keeping well - I have a couple of your Peak 75s to catch up on.
Anyhoo ...well done sir .....nothing less than you deserved. I was a bit pleased for you when an ad appeared in one of your vids (can you tell?) 🤣
Great video Darren, thank you 😊
It really is my pleasure and thank you kindly. I hope you are keeping well and managing to avoid the tidal wave of Wansdyke as a prehistoric canal type videos that seem to be populating my feed at the moment!
@@WC21UKProductionsLtd 🤣🤣I've seen those 🤣🤣
It seems a bit redundant to have both a Mote and a Thing in such a small area.
Did the English meet at one and the Danes at the other?
That’s a really interesting point. It’s odd that there are these 2 meeting places so close together. My thoughts are that they might not be contemporary with one another - perhaps they moved it. The other thought is that this valley runs down to the Thames and we know that the Danes attacked Wessex from that direction, so possibly linked to that period. Great to have these mysteries embedded in the place names.
Thanks for watching and engaging. Always appreciated.
I loved that video! Thank you so much for all your research and hard work.
I am catching up with your older videos, having been directed to your channel by one of your fellow vloggers (?!) Is that even a word ? 😉
Your subjects are so interesting as a lovely uncle of mine , along with my maternal grandmother, got me fascinated by history and lots of walking in various places.
It's all a long time ago but i loved looking for clues, so to speak 👌
I've walked and taken in my surroundings from my days wearing "jumping jack" toddler walking shoes, to grown up walking boots 🤗 As a teenager, my sister used to go on digs in Essex with largish groups but i didn't get the chance to do that as i had other commitments at the time.
Anyway, thank you so much for your brilliant videos 👍
Thanks Christine - that's lovely feedback. I really enjoyed making this video as it is an area I have known, and been fond of, for a long time.
My Grandmother was a huge influence on me. Bestowing a deep regard for British landscapes and history. I think of her often when I'm out making these videos.
@@WC21UKProductionsLtd
Your grandmother certainly was an enormous influence on you; it shows, that's for certain 💯👌
Yes, it's amazing how the memories flood back when out and about.
I was in the Peak District a little while ago, doing nothing outstanding but just walking in New Mills and remembering her company....and her inimitable walking stride 😊
Thanks WC21 👌
Beautiful villages! Have to visit the Bull and Butcher for a pint.🎉
Thank you and they really are picture postcard villages. Definitely recommend The Bull and Butcher - just prepare yourself for the rude landlord!
@@WC21UKProductionsLtd 😂 Basil Fawlty
Very much so! Mind you, we have a lot of them here!
Not far from where I live there’s an Hambleden hill I live in a small town called Bacup.
Thanks Warren. I don’t know that one, but I do have some videos planned in that area. Thank you for watching and commenting.
I chuckled through a lot of the wonderful vid, thank you Darren.. Highly entertaining and informative as per. I wonder if the border between the Norse and English held lands ebbed and flowed on occasion leading to a fusion of cultures in villages that sat immediately on said border ?
Thanks Phil! Yes, I suspect there was some ebbing and flowing in this area! It’s interesting that there are the 2 villages, so close together, both with the assembly place thing going on. I’m sure the Thames provided a natural border between the English and the Norsemen once matters were settled between them. Also fascinating that the Norse customary laws carried on for centuries in areas like this.
@@WC21UKProductionsLtd I've posted this to my FB page, hopefully it'll gain you more views Darren. I have many Canadian and Aussie friends who enjoy anything eccentrically English ...Not calling you an eccentric antiquarian ...but...well 🤣.
@@philcollinson328 thank you very much! I am happy to be marketed as eccentric! Some Americans do seem to love English eccentricity, don’t they?
@@WC21UKProductionsLtd Canadians more so will adore you if they discover your channel, Darren. That then tends to lead into traction in the U.S.
Two ads here - Orange brand and Nicorette ....big shout out to them.
😂
"From the Thames , up the river Lea to its source, then straight north to the Ouse at Bedford. Then following the Ouse to Watling Street. Thereafter, following the Street to Wroxeter " Danelaw in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles
Thanks. A long way out from the Chilterns in that description, I know.