Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Harrow down Hill 1761 Rocque

• Herwaldindune, Herewaldinduna c.1180 Abingdon 13th

• Herbalduna, Herwaldun c.1240 ib

• Herewaldone 1327 SR

• Hardewells Downes als' dict' Harwell Hille, Harwell Dowen 1550 LRMB

Etymology

Harrowdown Hill, Harrow down Hill 1761 Rocque. This hill overlooking the Thames may very plausibly be identified with Herwaldindune , Herewaldinduna c. 1180 (13th) Abingdon, Herbalduna , Herwaldun c. 1240 ib, Herewaldone 1327SR (p), which means 'Herewald's hill' (v. -ing-, dūn ). In three of the four Abingdon references the name is that of a fishery, and in the other it is that of a wick , mentioned after the nearby Charney Wick (390). An intermediate stage in the development of the name is probably represented by Hardewells Downes als ' dict ' Harwell Hille , Harwell Dowen 1550LRMB .