Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (the) Round Table c.1540 Leland 1671 Fleming 1777 M

Etymology

King Arthur's Round Table, 1750 Pococke, 1777 NB 414, usually called (the ) Round Table c. 1540 Leland, 1671 Fleming 30, 1777 M.This ancient circular diked enclosure (probably also called Ringedyke infra ) is described in RCHM xxxi, 252. Leland v, 48 calls it 'a ruine, as sum suppose, of a castel…of sum caulled the Round Table, and of summe Arture's Castel'. Like Pendragon Castle (ii, 13supra ), the name is derived from Arthurian legend. The site is by the Roman road near its crossing of the Lowther at grid 83–523284.