Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bellum locum in Westmeria 1250 NWm

• Bellus locus, Bello loco 1253 Pipe 1256 Weth 1291 Ch 1292,1298 MinAcct

• Bewley 1609 Comm

• Buly-castle 1671 Fleming

• Bewl(e)y castle 1672 NWm 1697 PR 1823 M

• Bewl(e)y parke 1699 BdyR

• Buley (Castle) 1610 Camd 1763 PR

• Bellewe 1274 Kendi,133

• Belew 1315 Ipm

• Bellowe Hy6 Rent

Etymology

Bewley Castle, Bellum locum in Westmeria 1250 NWm 338, Bellus locus , Bello loco 1253 Pipe, 1256 Weth, 1291 Ch, 1292, 1298MinAcct , Bewley 1609Comm , Buly-castle 1671 Fleming, Bewl (e )y castle 1672 NWm 351, 1697 PRet freq to 1823 M, Bewl (e )y parke 1699BdyR , Buley (Castle )1610 Camd, 1763 PR; Bellewe 1274 Kend i, 133(p), Belew 1315 Ipm, Bellowe Hy 6Rent may also belong here, but they may be identified with the R. Belah (i, 3supra ). The name is Fr  beaulieu (Lat  bellus locus ) 'beautiful place', and the castle was originally built in the 13th century as a residence of the Bishops of Carlisle, the remains being largely of the 14th century (cf. T. A. Carmichael in CW xxvii, 184 ff and RCHM 43); Hugh, Abbot of Beaulieu (Ha), became Bishop of Carlisle in 1218 and doubtless gave the name of his abbey to this place (NWm 338).