How did Turret Court get its name. The origins of Turret Court : An investigation into Ancient Trackways.

How did Turret Court get its name.

The Origins of Turret Court: An Investigation into Ancient Trackways

How did Turret Court get its name? While the name is shared by the modern residential development and the Victorian house that preceded it, the true origin may lie much deeper in Britain's pre-Roman history. This paper explores the possibility that the name "Turret" serves as a linguistic marker for ancient trackways and ley lines that converge on this specific site.

 The site’s documented history begins in the Victorian era with the construction of Turret House, which was later known as (or renovated into) Turret Lodge. In 1964, the lodge was demolished to make way for the current standing structure, Turret Court.

Alfred Watkins and the "Old Straight Track"

To understand the significance of the name, we look to Alfred Watkins (born 1855), the pioneer of ley line theory. In his seminal work, The Old Straight Track, Watkins argued that the UK is crisscrossed by a network of straight navigational paths used for trade and travel.

Watkins specifically notes that:

"...tumps or turrets (mounds) used as fortification earthworks" (The Old Straight Track, p. 7)

Alfred Watkins

He suggested these "turrets" were built by ancient peoples to protect homesteads and serve as sighting points for travelers.

Geographical Evidence

Modern mapping tools provide compelling support for this theory. Using the Ley Line Locator, cross-referencing reveals that two distinct ley lines merge exactly at Turret Court. This convergence suggests the site was a focal point of an ancient trackway, likely marked by a "turret" or mound long before the Victorians arrived.

The Victorians were famously obsessed with antiquarianism and ancient history. It is highly probable that the original builders of Turret House had knowledge of these ley lines or the remnants of the earthworks. By naming the property "Turret," they were likely "marking" the site's ancient significance and preserving its history as a fortification or navigational waypoint.

This research suggests that "Turret Court" is not merely a grand Victorian name, but a linguistic bridge to Britain’s pre-Roman past.

References

 * Watkins, A. (1974). The Old Straight Track. (Originally published 1925).

 

* Ley Line Locator: https://mapsmania.github.io/leylines/ https://mapsmania.github.io/leylines/