HBP post DH look Chapters 1-2.

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 184307

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Philip" <philipwhiuk at ...> wrote:

Philip: 
 
> From a little research: Budleigh Babberton is comprised of two names each
> which can be traced back to places and other ideas:
 
> Budleigh: East Budleigh and Budleigh Salterton are both villages in Devon
> located just off the south coast. Budleigh Salterton is the closest match to
> that of BB, being almost entirely residential and 'famed for it's elderly
> population'. Somewhat notably it came last in a 2003 survey of towns that
> give value for money for homebuyers. This was printed in the Observer - I
> think it's probable that JKR read the Observer that day and stored the
> village name for later.
 
> Babberton: Firstly it's a slight alteration on the existing theme. Secondly
> the clue comes from 'Whinging'. A whinge is an English word meaning to a
> cry; a complaint; to complain or protest, especially in an annoying or
> persistent manner. This is remarkably similar to the tactics used by Dudley
> in the early chapters of PS. Now in HBP, Slughorn is seen to be a gossiper -
> another word for gossip is 'blab'. I don't see it as a massive leap from
> Blab & Salterton to Babberton. 

Geoff:
I must say that I don't buy into your thoughts on the etymology of 
Babberton. However, I admit that I have previously paid little attention 
to the name of the village, but there is something interesting which 
emerges from this and followson some discussion back in December 
2005 about Ottery St.Catchpole - the home of the Burrow.

As you say, Budleigh Salterton is on the South Devon coast about 9-10 
miles South-east of Exeter - the main regional centre. But the interesting 
fact that caught my eye looking at the map is that the village is at the 
mouth of the River Otter and about 8 miles upstream from the coast is 
Ottery St. Mary which had come into the thread - the though being that 
JKR had placed Ottery St.Catchpole in this area in her WW view.