Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Midelcauel in villa de Boudon 1306 Ass

• Boudon, Middelcavil (sic) 1362 Pat

• Middle Cale 1587 DbAxvii

• Midlecale, Bowdon Midlecale 1616 DbAxvi

• Bowden Middlecale 1640 DuLaSC 1650 ParlSurv 1711 DbAxxiv 1734 Poll

• The Queen's Mill, called Berde Mill or New Mill 1565 Lanc

• New Miln 1625 Rental

• the New Milne 1640 Map

• Newmilne 1641 DuLaSC

• Boudone 1330 Ass et passim

Etymology

The history of the name is by no means clear, but the likeliest explanation is that Bowden is from Bowden Hall supra 61, the name later denoting a large area. In the 16th century numerous references have been noted of the Township of Bowden, comprising the parishes of Chapel and Middle Cale e.g. 1587 DbA xvii. Such references as Boudone 1330Ass et passim can be definitely identified with this area.

This is probably, as Professor Bruce Dickins suggests, 'middle allotment of land', from middel and ME  cauel, cavel 'division or share of land made by lot, an allotment of land'. The earliest reference in NED to the latter, used in this sense, is 1652 (v. NED s.v. cavel sb, 3).

The modern name, now erroneously in the plural, denoted a mill on the right bank of the Goyt, as shown on the 1640 map.