Skyrack and Shire Oak

Skyrack and Shire Oak are words that anyone familiar with Headingley will know. There is Shire Oak Road, Street and Court. Countless numbers of students from the University have enjoyed a pint, or five, at the Original Oak public house and across the road at the Skyrack public house.

These words, Skyrack and Shire Oak, are believed to have come from the same source. The custom of the early Celtic tribes was to hold meetings at a prominent feature in the landscape. It is generally stated, in various books on the subject, that one of the oaks in the forest had shinier, brighter leaves than the others and that became a meeting place. The tree was named the 'Bright Oak'. In the early language 'bright' was 'Siar' and 'oak' was 'Aches'. Consequently 'Siaraches' was the meeting place. Over the years the word deviated into the two forms.

I think this is wrong. The OE word 'scir' had two meetings; (1) bright, (2) district/region of. Someone once took the first meaning and that has stayed with us for a considerable time. 'An oak tree with shinier leaves' - I just don't see that as being likely. The other meaning, 'district of the oak', is simpler and makes more sense. Anybody disagree ?…… e-mail cheerfully received.

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