Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• 2 closes called Rood Hill 1544 Hutch3

• todehyllis (sic for rodehyllis) 1554 PlR

• meadow called Rodehill 1566 DorR

• la Rode Hy3 Cerne 14 Ass 1288

• Rod Ed1 ForReg 15

• Rodum 1338–40 Glast

• Rodehills ashe als. Lynes ashe 1615 DuCo

Etymology

Rood Hill (lost, about ST 645059), 2 closes called Rood Hill 1544 Hutch3, todehyllis (sic for rodehyllis )1554PlR , meadow called Rodehill 1566 DorR, named from la Rode Hy 3 (14) Cerne, 1288Ass , Rod Ed 1 (15) ForReg , Rodum 1338–40 Glast, cf. also William atte Rode (taxed in Hartley supra ) 1327, 1332SR . 'The rood or cross', from OE  rōd2, with the later addition of hyll 'hill'. The simplex forms from Hy 3 (14) Cerne, Ed 1 (15) ForReg and 1338–40 Glast occur in the bounds of Blackmoor Forest 3274–5. There was no doubt a standing cross here at the pointed SW tip of Hermitage par. supra where the boundaries of three pars. (Hillfield, Hermitage and Minterne M.) meet and from where two different routes (Clay St/Hermitage Lane and Hartley St) lead to the hermitage itself. The form Rodehills ashe als. Lynes ashe 1615DuCo (in the bounds of Hermitage par. supra ) also belongs here, cf. Lyon's Gate infra .