Whempstead
Early-attested site in the Parish of Watton at Stone
Historical Forms
- Wemstedegrene 1400 Pat
- Wenistedegrene (sic) 1403 Cl
- Wemsted(e) 1462,1467 Pat 1463 Ct 1535 VE
Etymology
Whempstead is Wemstedegrene 1400 Pat, Wenistedegrene (sic)1403 Cl, Wemsted (e )1462, 1467 Pat, 1463Ct , 1535 VE. The forms are very late. It may be that the first element is the same as Wem (Sa), Weme DB, Wemme 1284 FA. This can hardly be anything but a derivative of OE wamm , 'defilement, filth,' and Ekwall (DEPN s. n .) is probably right in supposing it to be used of a marshy or miry place. There was a chapel here in early times, which is mentioned in the 13th and 14th century (Londin), but not by name. This no longer exists, but the memory is preserved in Chapel Fm infra .