HOW did Mollicar Woods at Almondbury get its name?
I asked the question a couple of weeks ago. The woods are famous for the annual sing that has been taking place there for more than 100 years and is a well known local beauty spot that has been enjoyed by generations.
But how did it get its name?
Angela Griffith, of Flockton, studied ‘sings’ for her Music Masters in 1993.
“It was great fun gathering and analysing old programmes and interviewing the elderly,” she says.
The Mollicar Woods Sing was one of her case histories.
And its name?
“The conclusion I came to, although others probably know better, was that mollis means kestrel and carr means woods.”
Pterodroma mollis is the Latin name for kestrel and carr is a British dialect word for woods from the 16th century that probably has its origins in Scandinavia.
I’m disappointed there was no Molly Carr.
