Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

Sanctuary Moor, also in Bexton 73supra , cf. Moor Head 1831Bry, 1842 OS, Moors Head House 1681 JRL, the probable location of mora de Creswalleclef c.1292 Orm2, Tab, 'a common of pasture between Nether- and Over Knutsford' (Orm2 i489), and Walleclif e14 JRL, le Walleclif 15Dav , in Over Knutsford. The moor occupies the valley south of Knutsford, between the boundaries of Bexton and Over Knutsford. The brook Birken supra , runs down it, and the sides are steep in places, cf. The Cliff and Vale Bank infra . The older name 'steep hill-side at the cress-stream', v. cærse , wælla , clif (nom.pl. cleofu ), may contain an older name of the brook. The later name is 'top end of the moor', v. mōr 1 , hēafod . The modern name is not explained.