Anne - Perhaps the following explanation might help, from: http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/Misc/Books/FolkTalk/B.html. "Brant, Brat, adj. C. Steep; generally applied to a hill side or road up a steep hill, such as the road down to the North Landing at Flamborough. The word brat, which is the Danish form, is still retained in place-names, e.g. Nunburnbolme Brat, which is a very steep wooded hillside. The word also is used with a secondary meaning, in the sense of pompous, or stiff in manner. Dan. Brat (steep) ; Swedish Brant (steep). Ex.Aye! but it's a bit brant; it's t' rooad t' bait lasses gans ti gether flithers." Conrad I have the birthplace of an ancestor in the 1861 census for Flambro' which looks like Belk. His wife and children were all born in Swine. Has anyone any idea what Belk could be please? I can't find it on a map or on the GenUKI list of places in Yorkshire. There is a Balk in West Yorkshire but this seems unlikely. Regards Anne