Google Maps show an imaginary place near to where I live: a town with the ugly name of Argleton. This has been commented on elsewhere, with theories that they have simply got the name Aughton wrong (though Aughton appears as well), or that it is a deliberate mistake, designed to catch out unauthorised users of the maps, like a ‘trap street’ inserted in an A-Z map. However, Argleton does more than just sit there as a hidden feature: it shoves its way into people’s attention in many ways. Various software packages use Google’s geographical information, and Argleton seems to have primary claim on the surrounding postcodes – one can rent property there, or read inspection reports for its nurseries, at least according to the internet.
The possibility of actually visiting an imaginary place seemed irresistible. In terms of my journey, not to go there would be a dereliction of duty, like saying ‘I could have made a detour to Rock Candy Mountain’ or ‘Tir-nan-Og’, ‘but I decided to press on directly to Maghull instead’. So today I decided to make the expedition – from the world we know to a fictitious and uncertain place.
Reaching non-existent lands can be accomplished in many ways, but I decided to use Google itself to navigate to this one. After all, they invented it. I summoned up a route, which turned out to be a straightforward hike along the A59, rather than, say, a trip through the back of a wardrobe. Mundane as this may seem, I kept my eyes peeled for signs and portents – not knowing what relevance a strange map created from a faded planning notice, a partial alphabet tool in a closed-down garage, some broken fencing in the shape of a rune or a burning web may have in later stages of the journey. It pays to be prepared.
If Argleton were to feature in The Dictionary of Imaginary Places, it would have good company in the A section, such as Amazonia, Averoigne and Atlantis. Specifically it would nestle between Argia (which ‘has earth instead of air’ and where ‘the streets are completely filled with dirt…over the roofs of houses hang layers of rocky terrain like skies with clouds’) and Argyanna (‘a strategically important town in southern Rerek’).
I think what’s offensive about ‘Argleton’ is that it sounds like a mockery of Aughton. Perhaps it is like the Hellmouth in Sunnydale, except rather than being a portal for evil beings, it acts as the doorway for forces of debasement, parody, travesty and corruption; forces of error that subtly undermine and distort…
So I approached cautiously, peering towards it across innocent seeming fields,
finding the ‘place’ to be protected by various walls, broken fences (perhaps magically stronger in their broken-ness), wards and charms.
I moved towards the epicentre. I paused before passing beyond the realm of true names to that of the unashamedly fictional.
You have to take care at these times. It is all about detail… I had come equipped, with apparatus to protect me from any strangeness that might occur. I didn’t want to come out the other side reduced to a parody of myself, shambling out transformed into, say, Ray Byfield, Marketing Director of Argleton University. So I had with these items with me:
1. A Wonder Woman comic. I thought the Lasso of Truth, wielded by a character created by one of the inventors of the lie-detector, would provide some symbolic defence against irreality.
2. A bad copy of something else: Kyrik: Warlock Warrior (Gardner F. Fox, 1975) is a pastiche of Conan the Barbarian – a piece of entertaining but unoriginal hackwork; Kyrik is to Conan as Argleton is to Aughton. I thought a bit of this would be a kind of inoculation, passages like ‘The outlaws stared at that darkness, saw it shot through with streaks of vivid lightnings, red as the fires of Haderon’ acting as antigens against any reality-dissolving effects that might be encountered.
3. A toy tapir, bought recently at Transreal Fiction. I figured this little guy must be steeped in alternate worlds, having lived in a science fiction shop for a while – s/he could help navigate back to the real world if some compromised reality became confusing.
The time had come to walk in to Argleton itself. A small copse of trees, with a stream and a tumbledown kissing gate, seemed appropriately fairylandish. I paused to photograph the sky, a dim gesture towards Google’s Brother Eye satellites – watching, distorting, from above the bright skies.
A few more metres took me beyond the ‘argleton’ zone to Aughton itself, described in Arthur Mee’s Lancashire as ‘A Patchwork of the Centuries’. This description could lead a fancifully-minded person to expect some collage of time, with biplanes and pterodactyls flying above people hovering to the post office on their anti-gravity discs. However Mee was really just talking about the church, which unfortunately was locked. But, like Kyrik (p.79) I had ‘Enough [coins] for a wineskin and a leathern jack or two of ale’, so I visited the Stanley Arms. I ordered a pint of Clark‘s Classic Blonde, reflecting as I drank the pleasant hoppy beer (3.9% ABV) that I could construct the whole remaining journey around beer with risque names, and how my feminist pals of the late 70s would have boycotted pubs and breweries for this kind of thing. Guess I’ll be visiting our old haunts when I get to Brighton…
Then I began to think, had I actually left ‘Argleton’? Or was I still in some kind of alternate universe? The differences could be minor. Perhaps, in one of the decorative books arranged in an alcove in the pub, one word would be different. Or maybe when I left and peered back towards Liverpool, I would see Lutyens vast, never-built cathedral dominating the skyline, instead of the familiar wigwam.
And I was right to be concerned. As I left, I found the evidence: a discarded, new Woodbine packet in a hedgerow. I’m convinced that Woodbines don’t exist anymore, or rather that they hadn’t when I left home. It’s been a long time since Van Morrison ‘Bought five Woodbines at the shop on the corner’…
A pack with the health/death notice on it would be anachronistic, like a horsedrawn carriage with a CD player. But in this world, people still buy and smoke them. So here we are, through the looking glass. Argleton, and all unexisting paces, have become a tiny bit more real.
Walking the territory redraws the map.
Wonderful!
Glad the tapir proved to be such a staunch companion and an essential member of your expedition!
Mike
I live near Argleton and, after spotting it on Google Earth, like you I’ve recently been exploring the area.
I’ve heard Aughton mispronounced as ‘Ar-gh-ton’ several times which could explain it. I think I do prefer the wormhole theory though. I lost a kite pole there once so there’s obviously something suspicious afoot.
Local children seem to have a sixth sense about the place and avoid the area. It does seem to attract more than it’s share of small white dogs and slightly worried ladies though, the former of which are all in a hurry to sniff through the long grass by the bridge. Trolls perhaps?
It’s a good thing you took that Tapir with you.
Good luck with the rest of your trip!
[…] possible that some new readers are checking me out. If you’re looking for the Argleton post, here it is – […]
I i have grew up and still live in the town Google thought should have a new name, and i have to say this blog post has made me see it all in a new way. Maybe this is why after living away for 5 years i have found myself back where i promised myself i would never be…..
Minus a few old benches and fading litter piles, you have captured its only charms in these photos.
It is somehow appropriate that this place has been given its own identity. A short cut from thirst to refreshment, and a magical short walk on a summer’s afternoon. Saunter beneath majestic parkland trees to reach the open field which has a strangely foreboding feel as you approach the gate and foot bridge. What mystery lies beyond ? Beware the cows which sometimes gather along the fence, and prepare to do battle with nettles and insects on the hedgerow path before release into St.Michael’s.
You have now left a different place.
Thanks for the comments.
Resident: Surely not it’s ONLY charms??
Wanderer: You make me want to do it all over again – if only there’s a reliable couple of hours of ‘summer’
absolutely brilliant journey to the heart of darkness!
[…] mentioned Argleton a year ago, Mister Roy has walked there and even the Ormskirk Advertiser has covered the issue but soon its days may be […]
Referring to “Bored of the Rings” by the Harvard Lampoon…
“…King Argle-Bargle or someone else”…
“Argle-bargle” was a ’70’s military – at least Air Force – term for incomprehensible BS.
Could someone in Google (a misspelling of googol ((look it up))) have a sense of humor?!?!
ace! 🙂
It just dawned on me: Argleton is the name of a planet in the game Spore.
[…] seems Argleton just won’t die! Late to the game behind the Ormskirk Advertiser, Mister Roy’s visit and my post about the village some 13 months ago, the Daily Telegraph yesterday revealed the […]
Argleton’s fame has spread to the US. Maybe it only appears once every 100 years, and Google happened to record it during its brief appearance this century.
I’m walking on toward 60…. soon to be.
Congratulations for exploring and enjoying your life.
sounds like a spoof commercial for panoramio.com
“Argleton” is anagram for “not real G”(oogle)
[…] und einem Plüsch-Tapir. Seinen erschütternden Reisebericht hat er in einem Blog-Eintrag festgehalten. Ein kleiner Auszug gefällig? Gerne: Die Zeit war gekommen, Argleton selbst zu […]
[…] Destination: Argleton! Visiting an imaginary place Walking Home to 50 Anyone been there? __________________ I hate myself and i want […]
[…] as to whether it’s a trap town. There are even some people taking advantage of this and writing walking guides to […]
I actually live in Argleton. What I want to know is – if Argleton is removed from the map will I continue to exist or will I disappear up my own Google hole…?
Hi Argleton Resident
You may not yet be aware of Argleton’s official town website http://www.argleton.co.uk on which I’m hoping for contributors to list places to go and things to do in the newest most cosmopolitan Lancashire town.
Come take a look I’d welcome your experiences
Hey Doctor Mick, thanks for the link and for your civic-minded work in promoting Argleton. I hope to visit soon (bit snowed under) – I’m beginning to think Argleton is realer than real, it obviously fills a void in the collective psyche. An Argleton Ale in the Stanley Arms would be good…
[…] this place to be sad and uncanny, rather like something from a story by Robert Aickman, or the phantom town of Argleton that has been all over the media recently. Hiking out through autumn paths, leaves cascading down […]
[…] actually exist, has puzzled internet experts.” The photo is from Picasa user Mister Roy, who walked and photographed the nonexistent place in February […]
Take a look at http://www.argleton.co.uk
I think that this Argleton place is the magical land that contains Hogwarts–the old wizards have lost their touch and the magical barrier that once made the town invisible to humans has slipped, letting Google Maps find it. Did you happen upon any Blast-Ended Skrewts on your trip? Oh, wait, the tapir probably scared them off 🙂
[…] perhaps? — seems to have first discovered Argleton in September, 2008. Roy Bayfield actually visited the mythical Argleton in February of this year, and posted photos of what appears to be some vacant fields and wooded […]
[…] 如果你在Google Maps搜索England和Argleton,真的可以看到这么一个小城镇,而且在Argleton place页面里,内容居然极其丰富,但Roy Bayfield在今年2月按照Google Maps的指引到了此地,只是一片空旷之地,有照片有真相。因为……地球上根本没有一个叫做Argleton的地方。 […]
[…] on the map here. And if you don’t believe me that it doesn’t exist, have a read of this blog. This intrepid blogger went off to see if they could find Argleton between Hogwarts and […]
[…] Quelques photos du lieu ici […]
[…] notizia della città misteriosa da tempo alimenta diverse interpretazioni e dietrologie online. E c’è stato pure chi si è recato di persona nella località indicata […]
Believe and the world believes with you.
Disbelieve and they’ll argue.
I just realised that an anagram of ‘argleton’ is almost ‘not real’ theres just a g left over
My favourite Argleton anagram is “not large” because it so perfectly describes the unique quality Argleton has in that the real town is sometimes invisible to the naked eye.
This of course explains how Mister Roy managed to walk right through the town and was only able to take photographs of the surrounding countryside.
Perhaps he needs a better camera?
g for google
[…] Destination: Argleton! Visiting an imaginary place « Walking Home to 50 (tags: data google travel fun funny) […]
Great world and nice travel you’ve seen there ! Do you think it will work also if I take my Granny’s marsupilami with me, like you do with your tapir ?
Sounds like a great idea Dieselle, though they may escape and run free in the fields
[…] a village called Aughton, as you can clearly see on the map above. One local chap, Mr. Roy, went on a fascinating little tour of the place back in February. Argleton by and (c) Mr. […]
Maybe it’s like that book, _The City & The City_: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_City_&_the_City
The city’s there, but we’ve just been trained to “unsee” it.
It’s on my list to read – looks great, thanks for the prompt.
[…] Retecool: inmiddels is er een actiegroep om de stad van de ondergang te redden en er zijn ook al reisverslagen naar Argleton te vinden op het web. Similar Posts:Voor alles een Google […]
[…] de gagner du temps! – qu’une ville fantôme ça fait froid dans le dos, mieux vaut être équipé au cas où ! – que notre collègue en visite au States frôle l’hyperglycémie au Dr. Pepper […]
[…] we deze als voorbeeld nemen! – dat een spookstad rillingen in de rug geeft, je kan maar beter de juiste tools bij je hebben als je ze gaat bezoeken! – dat onze collega een teveel aan suiker aan het opstapelen […]
hi there,
I think your finding is amazing, however I do think that it is an error.
In the 70’s I was employed on a ‘job creation’ scheme with the local government. My main ‘task’ was a ‘digitiser’this involved me and the team I worked with using ordnance survey maps and putting crosses at each junction of roads and streets within the maps’ and then in-putting our references into this ‘special’ digitising machine and putting the information into the computer…..in a GREAT BIG ROOM in Newcastle. I/ nor we had no idea that this information would be used for the sat navs and directional information stored on computers in this generation. ??indeed it may not have been even for this purpose but I suspect it was! I do therefor think that argleton was mis – inputted for aughton bad hand writing and bad inputting could have a lot of mis-representation……………..we all have bad days………………………..we are only human…………………………………………………………………………………………..however i hope it is something else…………………………………….i do like a mysteryxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Its all fake !
[…] um einen Fehler in den Kartendaten von Google, der im Internet in den letzten Tagen für sehr viel Spass gesorgt […]
[…] notizia della città misteriosa da tempo alimenta diverse interpretazioni e dietrologie online. E c’è stato pure chi si è recato di persona nella località indicata […]
Just come back from a fleeting visit to Argleton…what japes!
I was disappointed no one has made a village sign yet! Even more disappointed I couldn’t get to have a proper look at Moor Hall.
Lovely enchantment. It seems it could be spot for leaving things for people to find, unexpected sorts of things. The Woodbines being a giveaway is enchanting. I may need to link to this.
What a wonderful walk, with a pint, too! I thought the (metal?) insert in the road with the weird letters might be something important, but perhaps they are all over your part of the world. The broken fence, the mossy marker along the way – the kissing (!) gate. Makes me want to take my visitors on a walk too to an imaginary place. Now I will have to look for one.
Jeanne, thank-you. The ‘metal insert’ was in fact a plastic stencil for marking or spraypainting letters. However, many metal inserts in UK roads can be seen at http://democracyandproperdrains.wordpress.com/
🙂
[…] Bayfield, Roy (22 February 2009). “Destination: Argleton! Visiting an imaginary place“. Walking Home to 50. Retrieved on 7 November […]
If you are thinking of buying property in Argleton, do be warned – there are rumours that the entire town may be razed to the ground to facilitate the building of the proposed Argleton International Airport. Perhaps this warning comes too late…
[…] levde alldeles i närheten hade han aldrig hört talas om Argleton. 2009 begav sig hans kollega Roy Bayfield till platsen där Argleton skulle finnas och hittade endast tomma fält omgivna av trasiga […]
[…] levde alldeles i närheten hade han aldrig hört talas om Argleton. 2009 begav sig hans kollega Roy Bayfield till platsen där Argleton skulle finnas och hittade endast tomma fält omgivna av trasiga […]
Well I never! I was astounded that you also thought up the idea of the toy tapir in association with the imaginary Argleton, as I have created an imaginary island off the South coast of Ireland for a new comedy novel I am writing; you can find it at:
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/group.php?gid=135631908853&ref=ts
One of the characters in the novel happens to work at a wildlife park just across on the mainland, which is called: Tapir World!
If the above link to the Facebook page doesent work, cut and past into your browser or search on Facebook for ‘Arbour Island’.
[…] old home. Needless to say I’d never been there. Omskirk yes. Argleton no. However some people have visited the imaginary place based on the Google map and have found a nice muddy field. Of course one of the possible […]
have there been any ufo sightings in argleton? i was told a bbc radio broadcast had looked into the possibility.
the photos of the area are rearkable for being, well, utterly un remarkable. erie. and what exactly is that monolith, 3rd pic down after the book cover? hard to say without seeing it whether its ancient, or recent pastiche?
i personally am convinced that we are looking at a manifestation of quantum alternative realities- how precisely argleton came to be in the aughton universe is beyond my grasp of it
new york tour from india
psychic online chatting
If you are a budding supernatural and ask for to prove your devotional abilities, the paramount modus operandi is to suffer with an online preternatural test. There are innumerable types of tests on tap online. The most well-liked theoretical assay is based on Zenner cards designed by way of Dr. J.B. Rhine. Dr. Zenner
[…] well as the walk itself, there have been some sidetrips, including the now-famous exploration of non-existent Argleton as discovered by Mike Nolan. The Argleton post has had tens of thousands of views, whereas the […]
Howdy.
I live in SE Arizona USA., very close to the Old Mexico Border. However I was raised on a remote cattle ranch in SE New Mexico, 65 miles SW of Carlsbad NM. Look up Sitting Bull Falls NM on Google Earth to see near my home.
As a child I spent 17 years on the back of my horse, just wandering the country side and exploring. As such. that has caused me to spend the last 42 years of my life as a wanderer. I drove Commercial Trucks across the USA and Canada for 20 years to see the country “BEFORE” it went to HELL. And America is in HELL now. But your article, took me on a majickal journey tonight and, you got me outta my house for the first time in a year. I don’t wander around anymore cause America isn’t a free country, let alone SAFE anymore, so I just stay home. Loved your article and wish to see you at Stumbleupon.com There you can tell the world your story . . .
In HIS Love… – – – The Wanderer – – –
– – – Winter Thea Bear – – – –
So glad my mystical homeland has proved to be of interest to the wider world even if it was for a relatively short time.the photos are lovely by the way. Happy that we were not over run by tourists as a result of all this publicity yet proud that my home village made this part of the world famous for a while. Seeing as things have died down and google have obliterated us from the world, I wondered about reviving interest . All those in favour shout ‘aye’. Louder . . .
Howdy I am so thrilled I found your site, I really found you by error, while I was looking on Aol for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a tremendous post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don抰 have time to browse it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the excellent work.
good blog
[…] Destination: Argleton! Visiting an imaginary place « Walking Home …Feb 22, 2009 … Google Maps show an imaginary place near to where I live: a town with the ugly name of Argleton. This has been commented on elsewhere, … […]
[…] Destination: Argleton! Visiting an imaginary place […]
[…] Destination: Argleton! Visiting an imaginary place […]
My home overlooks Argleton and I know it well. It may look like an empty field but given the right conditions (a full moon, a buxom wench, etc.) you too can dream. And who’s to say it won’t turn out to be West Lancashire’s answer to Brigadoon. Tim will tell …
[…] 最初にアーグルトンを発見した人物(隣町でウェブサービス会社を経営していた人物)の同僚であるロイ・ベイフィールド氏は、2009年2月に「アーグルトン」周囲を探訪し、ブログにその感想を掲載している。 […]
[…] 最初にアーグルトンを発見した人物(隣町でウェブサービス会社を経営していた人物)の同僚であるロイ・ベイフィールド氏は、2009年2月に「アーグルトン」周囲を探訪し、ブログにその感想を掲載している。 […]