Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• bruerium de Hole 1267–8 Chest

• Hole Heath 1294 Court

• Hoo Heath 1724 NotCestr

Etymology

Hoole Heath (lost, 109–4267), bruerium de Hole 1267–8 Chest, Hole Heath 1294 Courtet freq with variant spellings as for Hoole supra and Hole Heth (e ), Hole Heath (e ) to Hoo Heath 1724 NotCestr, cf. Heath Croft , Heath Field & Heath Piece (freq)1838TA , Hoole Heath Field 1552 (17) Sheaf, v. hǣð . Hoole Heath, like Rudheath 2198 and King's Marsh 75supra , was a sanctuary. Its function was 'that in time of war in Wales, all lawful men of the earl of Chester…were wont to have refuge and receipt on Hoole Heath with their goods, neces- saries, and beasts, for a year and a day' and that the citizens of Chester should have common of pasture here at all times, cf. 1339–40 (17) Harl . 2057 f.125 and Orm2 ii 813. On the north-east boundary of Hoole Heath was Salterway infra , described as 'the kynges highway ner Chester for our Lord the kynge to leide his hoost in the tyme of warr unto Shotwykford 'E1 (17) Harl . 2115, f.55 and Sheaf3 50 (10041), which suggests that the heath, like King's Marsh, was also reserved for military barracks when needed.