Ede Way
Early-attested site in the Parish of Eggington
Historical Forms
- ðiodweg 926 BCS659 c.1200
Etymology
The term ðiodweg , a compound of ðeod , 'nation, people' and weg , is fairly common in the OE charters, and like the similar compound ðeodherepæð is the equivalent of what in the Latin versions of the charters is called a via publica . Mr Gurney (BHRS v.169) identifies it with a wide and open green-lane on the low (greensand) ridge. To quote his own words: 'It possesses several names in different parts of its course…. At Wingfield in Chalgrave it serves as the present hard road and thence continues as a footpath to Kateshill on Watling St… At Eggington it reappears as an unusually broad green-way, under the name of the Ede Way.' He then shows how this road ultimately makes its way to the Ouzel at Yttingaford (cf. PN Bk 81), locally Tiddingford Hill. One interesting point, however, he misses in his masterly treatment of the charter. The Ede Way represents not only the course but the actual name of the old ðiodweg . This last word would develop to Thedewey in ME. Later, by a common process of misdivision, this was taken to be for The Edewey , and hence the modern name.