Goodshelter
Early-attested site in the Parish of East Portlemouth
Historical Forms
- Godeshalt(e)re 1203 Cur 1204 FF 1244 Ass
- Godesaltre 1203 Cur
- Godesheltr' 1204 Cur
- Godeshalre 1238 Ass
- Goddyshalter 1490 Ipm
Etymology
This is a difficult name. It may mean what it says. Unfortunately the word shelter is not recorded before 1590 and its history is obscure. The earliest form of the word hitherto recorded is shealter . Alternatively one might take the second element to be OE sealtærn , 'salt-house,' cf. Seasalter (K), DB Sesaltre , 1316 FA Sesaltre , but in that case the persistent h offers difficulties. The first element is equally difficult. If it is the adjective 'good' we have a place-name of the nickname-type.Goodshelter lies by a sheltered creek of Kingsbridge estuary.