English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Mutlow Hill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Wilbraham

Historical Forms

  • Mutlow Hill 1812 EnclA
  • Motlow Hill c.1825 O.S.
  • (campo voc.) Schameles 1251 ElyCouch
  • (ad) Shamele c.1320 Deed
  • Sameles 14th ADv.

Etymology

Mutlow Hill is Mutlow Hill 1812EnclA , Motlow Hill c. 1825 O.S.It is a tumulus on the Fleam Dyke at the junction of the boundaries of Great Wilbraham (Staine Hundred), West Wratting and Balsham (Radfield Hundred) and Fulbourn (Flendish Hundred), and is, no doubt, identical with Mutlow Hill (PN Ess 543). 'Assembly hill,' v. (ge)mōt, hlāw . Situated as it is at the meeting-point of three hundreds, this must, presumably, have been the place of assembly of all three. The sheriff's tourn for Flendish Hundred (infra 140) was at the Fleam Dyke. In Balsham in Radfield Hundred was (campo voc .) Schameles 1251ElyCouch , whilst in Wilbraham in Staine Hundred we have reference to (ad ) Shamele c. 1320Deed , Sameles 14th AD v. This is OE  sceamol , 'a bench,' clearly that on which sat the members of the Hundred court. Cf. Tendryngshameles (PN Ess 325) and Shamwell Hundred (PN K 107), DB Essamels , 1226 Ass Shamele (s ). v. Addenda lix.

Places in the same Parish