Mr Todd is one of the few people who have actually read the recently discovered original Lanercost Cartulary, a record of transactions kept by the Priors hundreds of years ago. Its study has revealed new spellings of local place-names, deepening understanding of their origins.
Some old place-names in this area are Saxon, some Scandinavian and some Celtic or "Cumbric". These older Celtic or British names were often superceded by names given by later settlers such as the Vikings, but around Gilsland a cluster of the older Celtic names seems to have survived. Why ?
There are two competing theories. One is that Gilsland has always been a backwater, and the old names were retained because no-one could be bothered to change them. Perish the thought ! Alternatively, during the tenth century, the kings of Strathclyde briefly extended their influence into this area. Could the re-establishment of the old names be due to these gaelic-speaking invaders ?
This is a thought-provoking extension of some ideas concerning the relevance of Cumbric place-names in elucidating the history of North Cumbria. Although the subject-matter is somewhat specialised, the paper is clearly written and can be read at Carlisle library in the 2005 volume of the Cumberland & Westmoreland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society, pp. 89-102.