| |
A little while ago my attention was caught briefly by a man with a JCB planting a pristine new street sign, bearing the inscription “LUKES CLOSE”. Not too remarkable, I recall thinking at the time, after all, the new development must, in the recent past, have formed the yard to Lukes Farm.
Several days later, during a pause for contemplation, my eyes once ore came to rest on the new name board, and it was only the that I was struck by a curious realisation. That, which I had, at first glance, taken to be “LUKES CLOSE” does in fact, quite plainly read “LUKES CLOSET”.
Have those individuals at SMD who are charged with the responsibility of naming new roads finally cracked under the strain?, I hear you ask. I think not, it took a while for the penny to drop, but there is an explanation.
Some time ago, whilst trying to restore some semblance of order to a small rockery which, like the rest of our garden, had been allowed to run riot, whilst we systematically dismantled the hose, I accidentally discovered what I took to be a geological anomaly, namely an uncanny strata perfectly formed material which bore an uncanny resemblance to house bricks. Coincidentally, in the midst of my quarrying activities, a long standing village resident, who also just happened to be a previous owner of our house appeared on the scene, and we fell into conversation, “Ah yes”, he said, with obvious satisfaction., “It’s the original garden wall, I buried it myself, not twenty years ago, up there”, he continued, pointing in the general direction of what is now part of the building site, “was the orchard, and at the top of the orchard, was the original privy”.
So there you have it! LUKES CLOSET is so called in commemoration of our long since vanished sanitary outpost!
At least, that is my theory. If anyone can offer a more plausible explanation I look forward to hearing from them. Meanwhile to those of you who have just moved in “Welcome to LUKES CLOSET”.
Mike Barnes
Reprinted from: Talkabout Autumn 1988
|