Monday, 4 February 2013

For quite a few years I thought that the name 'Raginnis' might refer Regina, as in 'Elizabeth I'. The English are very fond of saying that no-one has invaded the country since William, Duke of Normandy in 1066. This is not strictly true because after the sea battle with the Spanish Armada in 1588 some Spanish did land and 'invade' at Mousehole in Cornwall. The local populace fought back, there were significant deaths and the Spanish were sent packing. I had wondered if the farm was so named to celebrate this fact.
Reading through a Cornish dictionary of placenames recently I discovered that 'Raginnis' meant 'facing the island' - which refers to the St. Clements Isle which is just off the coast at Mousehole and was once the refuge of a hermit, St. Clement.
I mention this as proof that we are never too old to learn, and that my vivid imagination has been proven 'WRONG'- yet again.

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