Cracknow Hill
Early-attested site in the Parish of Barrington
Historical Forms
- Crakewayn 1314,1315 Trinity
- Crakwenhylle 1517 ib
- Crackway hill 1631 ib
- Cray(e)way(es) 1585, 1599 Ct
- Grayway 1631 Trinity
- Crackney Hill 1613 HardwickeA
- Crackling Hill 1877 O.S.
Etymology
It would seem at first sight that this name is identical with Crackaway (PN D 40), earlier Crakewey , but the early forms in -wayn , -wen are disturbing for we have no record elsewhere of a weak plural for the word weg , 'way.' Profesor Bruce Dickins makes the ingenious and likely suggestion that the name is really a nickname, 'crack- waggon hill' from the steepness, wen being from OE wægn , 'waggon.'