Talk:Valley of Rocks

"Valley of Rocks" or "Valley of the Rocks"?

Another editor objects to the use of the name "Valley of the Rocks" on the grounds that it is not the area's "official" name. For example, see the Exmoor National Park site, and the South West Coast Path site. Setting aside the question of whether such a place has any "official" name, it's also clear that the name "Valley of the Rocks" is widely used. What do other editors think? If "Valley of Rocks" is the correct common name, the article should be moved to that title. Ghmyrtle (talk) 19:50, 20 May 2020 (UTC)

Nobody can ever decide. The OS Explorer map OL9 (pub. 2004) has a photo on the front cover captioned "Valley of the Rocks, Lynton". On the map itself it is called "The Valley of Rocks". There must be a slight preference for any 'official' name, but with redirects I don't think it really matters.  —SMALLJIM  20:21, 20 May 2020 (UTC)

There is another editor who thinks it matters a lot! Ghmyrtle (talk) 07:23, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Valley of Rocks - Even though the Valley of Rocks is only ever referred to as the Valley of Rocks in official UK documentation, which I referenced, and never, the Valley of The Rocks, and, it is always referred to as Valley of Rocks locally on signposts, and never, the Valley of The Rocks, which I also referenced with a picture of a local signpost, it seems that the other editor repeatedly keeps changing it back to something for which there is no evidence, other than on internet websites, ignoring British and local North Devon history. Regardless of Wikipedia policy, which I am attempting to respect by writing here, this is disrespectful to folk from this area, although I appreciate that this is likely not the aim. I don't see it as any different from changing the name of Niagara Falls to The Niagara Falls. You can repeat in on the internet ad infinitum but that will never make it right. — Preceding unsigned comment added by DocFolland (talk • contribs) 09:07, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Here is an 1832 source, here is another reliable source, and here is a commercial site using the term, without "the". I suggest that the article be moved to Valley of Rocks (the disambiguation is needed), and that minor consequential changes be made to the text after that is done. Any further comments? Ghmyrtle (talk) 11:49, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Agree. A quick search through some offline documents here show a clear preference for "Valley of Rocks". Shouldn't this take over the primary position, though, since the only other item Valley of Rocks (Hyde) is a minor work inspired by the place?  —SMALLJIM  12:05, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Fine by me. Do we need to go through WP:RM, or are you able to make that move as an admin? I've gone ahead and tweaked the text in anticipation of a page move. Ghmyrtle (talk) 13:00, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Done it and, I hope, tidied up sufficiently. I notice the Commons category is called Category:Valley of the Rocks, Devon so for completeness a rename request could be made over there too.  —SMALLJIM  14:34, 21 May 2020 (UTC)