English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

West Mills

Early-attested site in the Parish of Corfe Castle

Historical Forms

  • molend' voc' le Westmyll 1512 Ct
  • West Mill 1585 Tres
  • Molendino 1270 Hutch3
  • atte Mille 1325 ib
  • Miller 1549 ib

Etymology

West Mills (SY 957823), molend ' voc ' le Westmyll 1512Ct , West Mill 1585 Tres, v. west , myln , cf. Mill Close 1549 Hutch3, 1585 Tres, Myll Close , Myll Mead 1603Swan , West Mill Bridge 1791 Boswell, v. clos(e), mǣd . The place is situated W of the castle on the Corfe River. The mill here may be identical with the water mill at Corfe mentioned in 1291 Hutch3, 1435Ct , AD , 1549 Hutch3 and may also have given name to Henry de Molendino 1270 Hutch3, John atte Mille 1325 ib, and John Miller 1549 ib to whom a water-mill and the demesne lands of the castle were demised. According to Hutch3 1 550 the hundred court for Hasler hundred infra was held here ('in a cotage called the West Mill, near Corfe').

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name

Major Settlement