Susie is talking about the area where the Bedfordshire Bunkers come from. The descendants of the American George's from Nantucket and Charlestown come from this area. I thought the rest of the list would be interested. Thanks Susie. I was certainly interested. Bette -----Original Message----- From: susie morley [mailto:susie@qtpiehouse.fsnet.co.uk] Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 4:32 AM To: Bette Richards; Gil Bunker Subject: The Normans I've always wondered about a possible French/Norman connection in the area of Bedford that the Bunkers generate from. Some of the localplace names have a very un-English sound; There's Marston Moretaine, Houghton Conquest, Apsley Guise, Barton-le-Clay, all within a few miles of Tingrith. Lace making was very popular in the area, and I found a reference in one of my books of children's rhymes that explained 'Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the Candlestick'. Apparently the lace making was taken into the area by the banished French wife (Henry VIII? I can't remember) and her court. The ladies whiled away the hours making lace and then passed their skills on. Eventually a cottage industry grew up and on a certain feast day, which may have been St Catherine's, the girls played a game whereby they had to leap over a lighted candle without extinguishing it with their long skirts. I'm just recalling this from memory from over two years ago. I can remember that 'Cut Off Day' comes from the day that the lace was cut from the pillow and taken into town to be measured up and sold. The girls were paid by the length and on certain days the merchants would be there to purchase their lace. I don't know if the French souinding names come from settlements made by the Court not returning to France or by Normans receiving grants of land after the Conquest. I've been reading up on Conquest of 1066, as we live in the area. Our car is serviced at Senlac motors and there are various places with the name Senlac. It turns out that 'Senlac' means 'Lake of Blood' which is how the Normans named the area after the Battle of Hastings. 'Lake of Blood Motors' Hmmm. Regards Susie