Harboro' Fm and Harboro' Rocks
Early-attested site in the Parish of Brassington
Historical Forms
- Herburehalle, Herebureghalle, Hereburg(e)halle, Herburghhalle c.1200,e.13th,1260,c.1300 CPG 1306 Ass
- Herburghale 13th CPG
- Harber hole 1577 Saxton 1610 Speed
- Harberhall 1620 CPG
- Harborow Hills 1618 Senior
Etymology
Harboro' Fm and Harboro' Rocks, Herburehalle , Herebureghalle , Hereburg (e )halle , Herburghhalle c. 1200, e. 13th, 1260, c. 1300CPG , 1306 Ass, Herburghale 13thCPG , Harber hole 1577 Saxton, 1610 Speed, Harberhall 1620CPG , Harborow Hills 1618Senior . The name was clearly applied to the cave at the foot of the steep rocky front of the hill here. The invariable -u - forms in the early spellings tell against it being here- beorg 'army-quarters, shelter', fitting as this would be for such a site. Perhaps it was originally a compound of here 'army' and burh 'fortified place', the compound having some such meaning as 'defence-work'. To this was later added hall 'hall'; the change to hole is natural enough in the case of a cave.