Outrage as Welsh farm is renamed ‘Hakuna Matata’

PEOPLE on social media have called for better legislation to protect Welsh place names after a Carmarthenshire farm was renamed “Hakuna Matata” on an Ordnance Survey map.

The farm in Gorslas near Cross Hands was formerly known as Banc Cornicyll, but is now registered under the phrase which means “there are no troubles” in Swahili. It became a well-known saying after the 1994 Disney movie The Lion King.

According to Land Registry records, the farm overlooking Llyn Llech-Owen near Gorslas has been in the hands of the same family since 1993. Details of companies registered at the site in the past 20 years suggest they have been calling it Hakuna Matata for some time.

And it now appears that mapping agency Ordnance Survey has updated its own maps to replace the historic name, which its own maps show the farm has been known as for more than 100 years.

The name change has sparked a furious response on social media, with comedian Tudur Owen accusing the national mapping agency of “[collaborating] in deleting and replacing our place names”.

Ordnance Survey has defended the registration, stating that the name change was in accordance with its own policies, which prioritises the collection of “consistent, definitive and authoritative descriptive annotations and proper names, places and features”.

The registry office still records the historic name of the property as Banc Cornicyll. Furthermore, the original name is on the list of Historical Place Names as Banccornicyll.

Twitter user, Rachael Garside, who spotted the name change, said: “*Name change alert* The farm in Gorslas formerly known as Banc Cornicyll is now registered as ‘Hakuna Matata’. Sut bod hyn yn bosib? How is this allowed? We need legislation to protect Welsh place names. NAWR.”

In response to Garside’s tweet, Ordnance Survey said: “Ordnance Survey’s remit is to capture the names of buildings and places that are currently in use. We can confirm that this name has been inputted in accordance with our Names Place policy”.

According to Companies House data, the farm has had a number of companies registered at the address over the years. Located near a river that leads to Llyn Llech Owen lake, the historical name Banc Cornicyll means a ridge for lapwing or plover birds.

In recent years there has been widespread discussion on the need to protect Welsh place names. Comedian Tudur Owen has been campaigning for better regulations to keep Welsh place names and the histories behind them.

The Western Mail has attempted to contact the farm’s owners.