Before my sub editors pipe up and correct me for missing Ashby De La from the headline, the title of this post is correct.
I know just how taken Dave is with Ashby De La Zouch so I thought I’d throw him off the scent and stop off at Zouch.
That’s right, in the ever confusing world of Midlands place names there is a hamlet called Zouch, not in Leicestershire like Ashby De La Zouch, but next to the Zouch Cut canal in Nottinghamshire.
Zouch has never had so many mentions in one article (apart from its Wiki page of course) and its claim to fame is that, alphabetically, it is last in the list of all named settlements in Britain.
Apparently, whilst Ashby (De La Zouch) was named after the La Zouche family during the reign of Henry III, Zouch is slightly less exotic as it derives from the English term for poor ground.
Dave is claiming that it is a tree stump of course but you know how those Americans love fake news…
Russ’ version wasn’t suitable for a family blog, so the origins of Zouch may well remain a mystery.
As you can see from this map it is plonked between the River Soar and the Zouch Cut with the 492 – Rose & Crown LE12 5EQ taking up a prime roadside and canalside position.
I can imagine Pete Allen meandering past here at a leisurely pace and popping in for a pint as it is an old school style of boozer as opposed to gastro.
There were workmen in sprucing the place up but the main bar area had three punters in laughing and joking with the conversation turning to bikinis!
The Landlady was top notch as in between stoking the fire and keeping her regulars amused she pulled through a large jug of London Pride (Fullers) which meant my half was absolute nectar.
As it was around 2pm on a Thursday I was probably one of the first punters drinking Pride so she was happy to make sure it was in fine order.
The fire was on, the conversation was good and a music mix to delight all fans of Gold or Smooth FM was on in the background.
Old school roadside pubs are less frequent nowadays and with this being both canalside and a riverside boozer it should pick up a fair bit of trade.
Putting it in context though it is so small it doesn’t even get a mention on this map of all things important near East Midlands Airport.
So, a top class gaffer, friendly punters, good well-kept beer and a canalside location….ok it’s not quite Ashby De La Zouch but it’s probably easier to get too and much easier to pronounce.
Great word for scrabble too. How many people wouldn’t challenge zouch?
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Could be a game changer 😄
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Well, Zouch may not be on the map, but we’ve got Bunny, Gotham and East Leake 😀
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Not forgetting west leake as well 😄
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Is that dependent upon which way one is facing when you take a slash?
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Hopefully the right way!
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You are quite right, we’ve cruised past there on a few occasions, but never stopped (wrong timings as always!)
However, I had a friend who lived in Normanton and I’m fairly sure we visited the Rose & Crown once (about 25 years ago!)
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Check those photo vaults for confirmation! Food is on mate but not in this occasion so a possible for future Allen trips…
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Ooh get you going all posh on the A6 now. Be careful out there.
Love the maps.
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A step up from the A514?
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Sacrilege!
Change of pace perhaps but most certainly not a step up. Good heavens! 😉
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A514 still the market leader….but A511 running it close
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“Before my sub editors pipe up and correct me”
Yeah, sorry about that. Life’s been either too hectic or I’ve been too ‘blah’ by the end of the day recently. Still dealing with my Mom’s estate from almost 3,000 miles away. 😉
” I know just how taken Dave is with Ashby De La Zouch”
Me too! Not just because it’s a cool name, but also because of the Shoulder of Mutton pub. 🙂
“there is a hamlet called Zouch,”
Phew! Glad I didn’t embarrass myself by being around to correct you not using Ashby De La in front of it. 😉
“it is last in the list of all named settlements in Britain.”
One has to find fame where one can.
“Russ’ version wasn’t suitable for a family blog, ”
(Z)Ouch! 🙂
But then, when are some of my remarks ever suitable? 😉
“between the River Soar and the Zouch Cut”
If my zouch got cut I’d be soar too.
“had three punters in laughing and joking with the conversation turning to bikinis!”
Hopefully not with how they all look in one.
“so she was happy to make sure it was in fine order.”
Top notch indeed.
“or Smooth FM”
Blimey. I’ve been known to record them and download to a USB stick for listening to when I’m driving. 🙂
“it doesn’t even get a mention on this map of all things important near East Midlands Airport”
Too much competition from Long Whatton and Sutton Bonington. 🙂
“and much easier to pronounce”
Not too sure about that. 😉
Cheers
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Welcome back Russ! I like your line about cut and soar 👏👏👏👏
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“I like your line about cut and soar 👏👏👏👏”
Me too! (LOL)
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Keep em coming!
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