Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Assedone 1086 DB

• Assedon', Asseden, Assinden' 1241 Ass

• Asheden' 1252–5 FF

• Aschden 1297–8 Ipm

• Ashdene 1328 Ipm

• Asshedene 1332 Ipm

• Assheden 1345 Cl

• Ashedene 1428 FA

• Ashden 1651 ParlSurv

• Aissendene c.1160 BMFacs

• Ayschdene 1336 Ipm

• Aisshdene 1361 Ipm

• Essendena 1167 P

• Esseden', Estene 1242–3 Fees

• Essenden, Esinden' 1284 Ass

Etymology

The Assedone of DB was identified by J. H. Round (VCH i, 347 n.7) as including 'the Ferrers holding in Compton', and in VCH iv, 18, it is identified with one of the manors later known as West Compton. There is no connection between this name and Ashdown (Pt 1 2–4), though the DB form is given under Ashdown in DEPN.For the various attempts to locate the battle of Ashdown here, v. Stevenson, Asser 237–8. Stevenson stated that the names were not connected, and that the second el. of Ashden is denu 'valley', in spite of the DB form. The valley is probably that followed by the railway line through the parish of Compton. The first el., for which Stevenson suggested the personal name Æsca , is perhaps more likely to be OE  æscen, used in p.ns. in the sense 'overgrown with ash-trees'. Hence 'valley where ash-trees grow'.