Spon End
Early-attested site in the Parish of Coventry
Historical Forms
- Spanna c.1144 Ch 1348 FF 1213,1233
- Spann' 1213 Cur
- la Espanne 1221 Ass
- ad Spannam 13th CovCh
- Sponne 1250 FF 1275 RH 1403 ADi
- Sponnestret 13th CartMisc
- le Sponne 1309 Ass
- atte Sponne 1361 ADiv
- Sponnefelde, Sponnewell 1336 Coventry
- pontem de Sponna, Sponbrygge 1411 ib
- le Spone cawsey t.Ed6 Rental
- Spaneend 1538 LRMB
- le Sponende 1585 ib
Etymology
This must be OE spann , 'span, hand's breadth,' but what sense-development it has undergone it is impossible to say, as we do not know the exact site of Spon. Elsewhere we find this element in Spon Lane in West Bromwich (St), the home of Richard atte Sponne (1379 Poll Tax), a place of which it is now impossible clearly to determine the topography, and Span in Ventnor (Wt), Spanne (1316 FA). This lies in a deep valley. Cf. also le Spanne (t. Hy 8Add ) in Weston by Baldock (Herts). See Addenda l.