Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

The Camping Close (6″). Cf. le Campinge close 1600Depositions (in Orwell). As a field-name this also occurs in the TA's for Chesterton, Girton, Soham, Little Thetford, Thriplow and Wentworth. It is from ME  camping , 'contending in a camp-ball or camping-ball match,' cf. NEDs. v. camping sb. The camping close was clearly the village football ground where was played a game with indefinite numbers on each side, somewhat similar to that which survives in the well-known Shrove Tuesday football match at Ashbourne in Derbyshire. Cf. also le Campingplace 1540MinAcct (in Fulbourn).