Woolfardisworthy, Torridge

The name of the village is a local curiosity, as its pronunciation (and occasional spelling) differs from what one might expect. On local signs, the village is sometimes marked as Woolsery alongside the original name. This is due to the pronunciation of the village's name being /ˈwʊlzəri/. The name also provides evidence for the power of the written word in conserving place-names: the shortened pronunciation is known to have been in use since the 17th century.^[2]

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English Place Names (Eilert Ekwall, 4th ed., 1960), the origin of the name is probably 'Wulfheard's homestead'. The element 'worthy' is from Old English worþig, one of several words used by the Anglo-Saxons to denote a homestead, farmstead or small settlement. Who Wulfheard was, or whether both Devon villages are named for the same man, cannot be known, but the relative proximity of two villages with such an unusual name is intriguing.

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Historic Ordnance Survey Map of Woolsery, Devon

INSPIRED BY WOOLSERY WEIRDO

I have been re-inspired to write, look up and feel part of something by a man I met by accident. I was talking to your local pastry kitchen about what goes on down the hall when Stuart told me about Weird Weekend. I then went online and saw that the CFZ were looking for helpers so I went along, feeling a bit anxious when a meet a man called Jon who looks a bit like Giant Haystacks. A posh hippie, he told me about the CFZ and its projects with passion. I then began to think to myself: hey, give things a try just for yourself and if others like it, it will be a bonus. So thank you, Jon.

HOW DID I END UP HERE FOR A £60 NATIONAL EXPRESS TICKET?

Usual boring stuff: went to a Catholic school and spent 2 years in the same class. Moved to secondary school and was bullied for a short time until I stood up to them one day in the lunch queue. Nearly got the cane when not doing school project of helping elderly do gardening. Only missed out because, as the headmaster knew, my Grandad was a caretaker at old school. Left in 1979 and worked in a factory dealing in making hardware goods. Nearly got beaten up by one-eyed co-worker for winding him up. Managed to move on to a plastic factory that made brushes - mostly as a tea boy cum labourer. Moved from home to first room in shared house. This is where I meet my first girlfriend, got my ear pierced, got into music and witchcraft, and followed bikers and Hell's Angels around  to feel cool. After split with then girlfriend went off the rails: 2 criminal damage, 1 year probation, drink and mild drugs. Anyway, decide to go training down the gym: circuit then weights; even entered a power-lifting contest (came last). Lived on top in sauna of gym. Fell out with family. Decided felt lonely so put an ad in back-street hero's for a girlfriend. Got a waste of time in Kent: a pervert, and then found present wife. Are you bored yet? Well, wife-to-be came with a bad husband, 3 children, court case, threats of violence, stress, moving a lot until now in Woolsery. P.P.S. got married 15th June 1991; Came to Devon August 1988.