Cowdray
Early-attested site in the Parish of Easebourne
Historical Forms
- la Coudreye 1279 Ass
- la Codray 1285 Misc
- la Cengel, la Sengle 1272,1284 Ipm
- la Sengle 1296 SR
Etymology
Cowdray is first found in the pers. name John de la Coudreye in 1279 (Ass ) and independently as la Codray in 1285 (Misc).It is a French name, from OFr coudraie , 'hazel-hedge,' which has taken the place of the earlier English name la Cengel , la Sengle (1272, 1284 Ipm) for a part of Cowdray Park, recorded also in the pers. name Alan de la Sengle in 1296 (SR). It was called Single Park as late as 1529 (SAC 7, 31 n.). For this word, v. Singleton infra 53.