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Plans to reintroduce 'Pigs Village' Welsh name to Northop Hall

Charlie Buckland
BBC News
BBC Photograph of a road sign reading: "Northop Hall. Gyrrwch yn araf. Please Drive slowly". BBC
Hopes to reintroduce a community's Welsh name that translates to pigs village has split opinions

Plans to reintroduce a community's Welsh name that translates literally as Pigs Village has left some residents unhappy, while others have welcomed it.

Jeff Sampson, who has lived in Northop Hall, Flintshire, for 46 years, said reintroducing the Welsh name - Pentre Moch - would make the village a "laughing stock".

Other residents said the translation did not bother them and was an opportunity for better use of the Welsh language, which they said "isn't heard enough".

A community councillor said a member of the public had recently asked for a Welsh name to be adopted for the village.

The Welsh name has existed for about 400 years and would be used alongside the English name of Northop Hall.

It refers to a 13th Century farm which used to sit near the original Northop Hall manor.

Experts have recommended Pentre Moch would be historically accurate.

But Mr Sampson said the reintroduction was "ludicrous", adding: "I personally am not happy about it. I really don't think it's necessary."

He said if it was a direct translation he may feel differently, but he did not feel the reintroduction was needed.

"To be honest, I think it's going to make the village a laughing stock, Pigs Village," he added.

"There has been a lot of influx of people in the village and they want a Welsh equivalent - well just go somewhere where it's already installed."

Picture of Mr Sampson stood in his doorway. He wears a grey crew neck t-shirt and a silver chain. He has blue eyes and short silver hair. He has a short stubbled beard.
Jeff Sampson fears the village will become a "laughing stock"

But the chairman of Northop Hall community council, John Gollege, said some had asked him for the Welsh name to be adopted for the village.

"We're trying to display and encourage the Welsh heritage of the village," he said.

"It is not a name change. The name will remain Northop Hall," said Mr Gollege.

"Other towns and villages like Mochdre, Swindon and Swinton all have references to pigs in their names."

Mochdre, in Conwy, translates to Pig Town and Swindon, Wiltshire, is said to mean 'swine' or 'pig hill', while Swinton in Greater Manchester is believed to have derived from Anglo-Saxon words meaning swine or pig enclosure.

The discussion follows another Flintshire village, New Brighton, adopting a Welsh name of Pentre Cythrel in 2024.

Darryll Marsden, general manager at Highfield Hall Hotel, said the Welsh name had caused some controversy.

Mr Marsden lives and travels to work from Yorkshire, and said he did not feel like he worked in Wales.

"You have got some people saying why do we need to change the name," he said.

"I don't think it's about changing the name, I think it's about adding a Welsh element to us."

Mr Marsden said he would not be concerned about the image of the hotel as a result of it being called a translation of Pigs Village, as you have you have that with every language.

Picture of Darryll Marsden, General Manager at Highfield Hall Hotel. He stands in front of the hotel, which is white washed and has four pillars in front of the entrance. Mr Marsden wears a shirt, tie and black waistcoat. He has very short buzzed hair and smiles at the camera.
Highfield Hall general manager Darryll Marsden travels from Yorkshire to Flintshire and says it does not feel like he works in Wales

Fellow resident, Gaynor Hughes, has lived in the village for 50 years and said it was a shame it had not been used previously.

"I just feel that's what it has always been known as, people who have lived here a long time are very aware of it," she said.

Scott Bagley, has lived there 25 years, he says the community should take on the Welsh language because you do not hear it enough.

"It's a lovely language, they should have Northop and the Welsh variation, it's a lovely place."

Gaynor Hughes photographed standing outside in front of a green hedge. She has silver mid length hair, has red lipstick and wears glasses.
"It's a shame it's not been used before now" says resident Gaynor Hughes

Northop Hall community council is trying to find agreement on what could be used.

The decision will then go to Flintshire council for approval before being used officially.

Mr Gollege said no road signs would be updated with the name until they needed replacing.