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.

Wall's Plant.

Early-attested site in the Parish of Puncknowle

Historical Forms

  • Hr Walls & Lr Walls, Deep Walls 1839 TA
  • claus'…apud Walhege 1459 Ilch
  • Wallis of Puncknoll 1597 Hutch3

Etymology

Wall's Plant. (SY 543875), Hr Walls & Lr Walls , Deep Walls 1839TA , possibly to be associated with claus '…apud Walhege 1459Ilch which is apparently from weall 'wall' or walu 'ridge' with hecg 'hedge'. The name is of some interest because in 1791 a coin-hoard was found in the field called Walls (Hutch3 2769) and in 1964–9 a Roman building was excavated here which is thought to have been a temple or shrine of the 3rd or 4th cent. AD (DoNHAS 90 167–8, Newman-Pevsner 354). With such archaeological evidence it may seem unnecessary to suppose any connection of the name Wall's with the family of Robert Wallis of Puncknoll 1597 (Hutch3 2741), but cf. Walls Down in Abbotsbury par. supra and the f.n. Walls (furlong ) in Portisham par. supra where derivation from the surname Waleys /Wallis is at least possible.