Speaking Geordie#22

V is for Vennel: A narrow lane, also a drain.

A vennel is a passageway between the gables of two buildings which could in effect be a minor street in Scotland, particularly in Royal Burghs created in the twelfth century, . The word "vennel" probably comes from Norman French - the French word "venelle" means "alley" or "lane" and "venella" is the Latin form.

The Scottish burghs set up initially by David I drew upon the burgh model used in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and used a number of French or Germanic words for town scape items. In Durham, like Newcastle, part of the old Northumbria, lanes are also colloquially known as vennels.