Parish Cake Autumn 2017
Your slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life - published by Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council
Your slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life - published by Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council
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Letters<br />
www.bussmurton.co.uk | T: 01580 712 215<br />
Star Letter<br />
Putting the ‘Cran’ back<br />
in Cranbrook<br />
I was taken with the article<br />
by Trisha Fermor in your<br />
Summer <strong>2017</strong> issue on the<br />
avian etymology of Cranbrook.<br />
I am a resident of the town and<br />
an academic specialising in<br />
ornithology of the Middle Ages,<br />
so I thought I might offer a<br />
further thought on the matter.<br />
Mr Massini is by no means<br />
incorrect when he remarks that<br />
Cranbrook may not be named<br />
after the bird we refer to today<br />
as the Cran. The Anglo-Saxons<br />
certainly knew what cranes<br />
were because these large, noisy<br />
birds were widespread across<br />
the country.<br />
It is possible that Old English<br />
cran was used to describe all<br />
heron-looking birds, but it may<br />
well be that this generalisation<br />
only occurred once cranes had<br />
become extinct in the 17th<br />
century. The Anglo-Saxons<br />
were excellent observers of<br />
birds. Tellingly they had a<br />
separate name for the heron<br />
(hragra), and<br />
there are English<br />
places specifically<br />
named after the<br />
heron (Rawreth in Essex<br />
for instance, meaning Heron<br />
Stream), which implies an<br />
intentional distinction. Even in<br />
the Tudor period, the species<br />
were told apart: the household<br />
accounts for one noble banquet<br />
note that ‘A young Heron is<br />
lighter of digestion than a<br />
Crane’. So Nancy Warne should<br />
not lose heart - it is a credible<br />
possibility that our town was<br />
indeed named after the elegant<br />
crane.<br />
Michael Warren, Cranbrook<br />
Who are these Hooligans?<br />
I was delighted to read in <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Cake</strong> (Summer edition, page 11) that<br />
thanks to a residents’ campaign new play equipment has been installed<br />
on the Jubilee Field in Sissinghurst. Well, already panels have been<br />
kicked out of the construction making it unsafe for children to play.<br />
Who are these hooligans who must have got some pleasure causing<br />
damage that will have to be paid for to repair?<br />
sent by e-mail<br />
Star Letter<br />
The author will receive<br />
a voucher for a hot drink<br />
and slice of cake from<br />
Cranbrook café Cocolicious!<br />
www.cocolicious.co.uk<br />
Can we Have a Crier?<br />
Can <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Cake</strong> campaign to<br />
have the Town Crier returned to<br />
Cranbrook, which is supposed to<br />
be a historic market town?<br />
Historic market towns always<br />
had a Town Crier. Why can’t<br />
Cranbrook? It was only a few<br />
years ago that we had one in<br />
Cranbrook; where’s he gone?<br />
Andy Slay, Cranbrook<br />
Solving the Crane Problem<br />
I read with interest Trisha’s interview with<br />
Nancy on the name of Cranbrook. Well I think<br />
I can solve the problem of bringing Cranes<br />
back to Cranebrook!<br />
Firstly flood the Crane Valley, plant huge<br />
trees in the front gardens of the bordering<br />
houses to deaden the sound from occupants.<br />
Only allow electric cars in the Co-op and<br />
Tanyard carparks, no street lights in four<br />
hundred yards of the valley and lastly only<br />
allow deliveries to the Co-oP between 3-4pm<br />
on Fridays. Also, all plastic shopping trolleys.<br />
Hey presto the Cranes will be back.<br />
The Village Eccentric (address supplied)<br />
NICK UPTON (RSPB-IMAGES.COM)<br />
8 <strong>Parish</strong> <strong>Cake</strong> • <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2017</strong>
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