"Clunton and Clunbury,
Clungunford and Clun
Are the quietest places
Under the sun"

So begins no. 50 of "A Shropshire Lad"

Now, I've known this quatrain since my chilldhood, but is it original Housman which has since become proverbial, or does it pre-date him?

According to the Houseman Society's critique of the poem these four lines are a traditional verse, and in fact were more popularly rendered "... are the drunkenest places under the sun". Houseman appears to have cleaned it up a little.

Aha! I've also encountered it as "the wickedest places".

Thanks - that helps a lot!