Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Castelli de Pech' 1173 P

Etymology

Peveril Castle, Terri castelli Willi peurel (in Pechefers (for Pechesers ), an interlineation) 1086 DB, Castelli de Pech '1173 P et freq .v. castel(l). PN BedHu xli notes “The castle is supra rather than in Pechesers , but one need not perhaps press the meaning of an interlineation too closely.” Williamson (Notes, DbAns iii, 15) makes the interesting suggestion that perhaps William Peveril's castle was actually in Peak Cavern and notes that the stone castle now in ruins dates from Hy 2 and that the cavern is a ready-made stronghold.It should be added, however, that the site of the present ruins is equally so.