PRE-SAXON CIVILIZATION IN DORSET. 217 



it joins the London road. This is not a road at all. but merely 

 a bridle path, and could have no connection with London. 

 Possibly the name may be derived from the Celtic. Llyn or 

 pool (Llyn claen being the derivation of Londinium) with the 

 dun or hill rising above it, as those are its exact conditions. 



The London road reappears running still southward through 

 three Ansty meadows, crossing the Divelish brook, and 

 finally merges into the herepath in Hartfootlane. 



A very narrow trackway leads eastwards from the top of 

 Ibberton Down to Houghtori Stubbs. It ran on the top of the 

 down and then led the way into the old Milton village, until it 

 was lost above Milton mill. Another branch runs through the 

 corresponding valley on the north side, through Houghtoii 

 and across the dow r n eastward, where it is still known as a 

 right of way and is used as a halter path. 



PLANT NAMES. 



" Excellent herbs had our fathers of old, 



Excellent herbs to ease their pain." 



Very few plant names can be traced to our Celtic fore- 

 fathers. We know they grew flax, for the Druids wore linen 

 garments, and it grows wild in many parts of the county. 

 They called it Lin from which is derived our word linen. 

 Vetches, they apparently grew for fodder, because its name 

 comes from the Celtic gwig. Slellaria Holostea had the fatal 

 effect of leading the wearer astray and causing them to be 

 pixey-led. Digitalis purpurea recalls the fairy folk, or at 

 any rate their gloves. Carrots they ate, for they called them 

 red (car) ; ferns they noted grew in swampy places, so they 

 named them verne. Ranunculus repens with its creeping 

 roots reminded them of ravens' claws (hram, a raven) so 

 rams-claws is still its name in country places. Apples they 

 grew, for Avalon received its name because of its famous 

 apple orchards. Osier beds (gwern), too, were very necessary 

 in those days of wattle and daub. 



