DURING a recent brief visit to my home town of Stourport, I was shocked to see references on road signs to “The Gilgal”.
This expression was also repeatedly used in a booklet referring to roadworks occurring in Stourport.
Having lived the first 25 years of my life in Gilgal, I never heard the definite article used with the street’s name, and neither did my sister, nor did any street sign use it. The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map XIV.10 of 1927 gave the street name as Gilgal, as did the equivalent map of 1947. The Ordnance Survey 1:1250 plan SO8171NW of 1965 also gave the street name as Gilgal.
The only other Gilgal of which I am aware is the location referred to several times in the Holy Bible, particularly in the Book of Joshua.
Whoever decided to add the definite article to the street name in Stourport has done so in error, and I suggest this should be remedied forthwith as it would be unfortunate for what is such a very distinctive and rare name to become permanently changed in this way.
ALAN MILLINGTON North Richmond New South Wales Australia
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