Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (on) brydanford 973–4 BCS1307 c.1150

• Brodesford' 1270 Turner

• Bredeford 1300 Cl

• Brydeford 1327 Pat

• Broad Ford 1641 SP

• Blackwater or Brodforde Bridge 1607 Norden

Etymology

Blackwater Bridge (1575 Finchampstead, on county boundary) is on the site of (on ) brydanford 973–4 (c. 1150) BCS 1307, Brodesford '1270 Turner, Bredeford 1300 Cl, Brydeford 1327 Pat, Broad Ford 1641SP . The bridge is called Blackwater or Brodforde Bridge 1607Norden . Brydanford could consist of ford added to the gen. of a river- name. A formally satisfactory source would be an OE  brȳde 'gushing or surging stream, welling spring' postulated in Löfvenberg 26–7.This may be the first el. of several names in Gl, v. Gl 3 xi, 4 107.If the el. be a stream-name, the reference can hardly be to the Blackwater, which in this stretch of its course was known as duddan broc (v. 7–8); but it could be to the stream in Wishmoor Bottom, which forms the boundary between Berks and Sr and which joins the Blackwater at this point.