In a message dated 31/01/2004 05:54:54 GMT Standard Time, helenh48@westnet.com.au writes: > Does anyone know of a place in Durham County called DIRTCAR? It was given > as an address on a marriage cert. > Speaking for myself, the simple answer is "no". However, I can make some observations on the name. First, are you certain that is the name? I have heard of some very severe distortions in an apparent place-name, made by those who are not used to reading old handwriting! For now, I shall assume that the writing is clear and there can be no doubt that it really does say "Dirtcar". "Carr", as a place-name element seems to have two, apparently opposite, meanings! It is sometimes used for low-lying and/or boggy ground, often as "The Carrs". On the other hand there is another meaning of "an outcrop of rocks" and that one is often used around the coast, where a group of off-shore rocks, or a rocky patch on a beach, will have a name which includes the element "Carrs". Just out of our district, in the former North Riding of Yorkshire, there is a coastal town/resort named Redcar, for instance. "Dirt" seems to refer to the remains of lead-bearing rocks after almost all the lead ore has been extracted from it by crushing, separating by water processes ("buddles") etc, and only the last remnants remain to be extracted. There is a place named "Dirt Pot" just north of Allenheads in East Allendale, Northumberland. Therefore, without committing myself in any way, I would guess that Dirtcar could be a piece of boggy ground close to a lead-ore crushing/washing plant! If it is within the old Co Durham then that would probably place it in Weardale (or its offshoot, the Rookhope valley), Teesdale or the south side of the Derwent valley. Best wishes, Geoff Nicholson 57 Manor Park, Concord, WASHINGTON, Tyne & Wear NE37 2BU (0191 417 9546) Professional Genealogist - Northumberland and Co Durham.