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From: "c.wright" <>
Subject: Re: [FENS] Gumecester
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 09:29:04 +1300
References: <005401c29348$7a3c5d60$791a86d9@oemcomputer>


Norman Custance wrote:

> Having recently acquired seven legal documents from HCRO concerning aquisition and sale of my family Bakery in Godmanchester and Huntingdon 1778-1825, they all have the same heading......
> Borough of Gumecester
> otherwise Godmanchester
> In the County of Huntingdon.
> Can anyone answer; where the name Gumecester originates from ?
>
> Norman Custance of St Albans, UK. Hunts Mem 847
> All Mail, In & Out, checked by Norton Anti Virus
>
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G'Day Norman.
That is really an odd spelling, if it refers to Godmanchester!
I am originally from Huntingdon just across the river and was always told that Godmanchester was called "Durliopons" or something similar in Roman times, referring to the original Roman river
bridge across the Ouse and the causeway associated with it that still exists.
The later name is supposed to refer to a Viking called Godmund who apparently sailed all the way up from the North sea around 900 CE or so and either made camp there or became associated with
the original Roman name. What the Iceni called it is lost!
All I can think of is that the version you found is literally a corruption of a corruption because the local accent wouldn't make it sound anything like that.
Regards Cliff Wright, born Ingram St Huntingdon.



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