Camber Castle
Early-attested site in the Parish of Winchelsea
Historical Forms
- Camere 1375 Pat
- Camer 1400 Pat
- Portus Camera 1397,1456,1519 SAC20,225
- Caumbre 1442 Pat
- le Caumber 1451 ib
- Cawmbur 1479 ib
- the Cambre c.1450 HMCv,491 1512 LP
- Camber Point 1747 SAC20,380
- the Combr' early15th ECP
Etymology
It is clear that in this name we have French chambre , AFr cambre (Lat camera ), 'room,' applied to the confined space of a harbour. Cf. the name La Chambre (Joanne, Dictionnaire Topographique s. n .) given to an anchorage in Finisterre between the mainland and some islands. Cf. the somewhat similar use of OE pynd noted under Pen Hill supra 200.