Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Forsquayt 1254 Lalnq

• Forstewayth 1275–85 Kendi,134

• Forsthweyt, Forstwhayte 1292 Ass23 1438 Kendi,44

• Forsthwayt(e) 1452 MinAcct 1461 Pat

• -halle 1344 Misc

• Forcewayt, Foresthwayt 1279 Ass21d

• Forsethwayt, Forsethweyt, Forsethuayte 1438,1439 Fine 1441 Pat 1442 Cl 1562 Kendii,134

• Frostthwayte 1439 MinAcct

• Frost(h)wayt(e), Frosthwaite 1472,1475 Pat 1608 LRent

• Frostwhaitt 1512 Kendi,55

• Fossetwayte 1562 FF

Etymology

'Clearing near the waterfall', v. fors , þveit . The site of the place is ¾ mile WNW of the waterfall at Levens Force (infra ); the clearing must therefore have been in the woodland which lies west of the R. Kent and of which only Brettargh Holt remains. The same p.n. occurs in Norway as Fossethuedt (NG i, 91), Fostvedt (ib vi, 39, vii, 65, viii, 48, etc.).