Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (at) Westle c.1045 ASWills 14th

• Westlai c.1050 KCD907 13th 1086

• Westley(e) c.1060 ElyM

• Westley Waterle 1389 Colexxxvii

• Westley Waterleys 1483 ib

• Westley Waterley 1523 SR

• Westleg(h) 1242 P 1298 Ass 1299 QW

• Vueslai c.1050 LibEl

• Weslai 1086 DB, InqEl

• Wesle 1297 Abbr

• Wvestle 1086 InqEl

• Westle(i)a Gun(n)or(r)e de Valoin', Westle(i)a Gun(n)or(r)e de Valoignes 1196–7 P

• Westle(e) 1220 FF 1441 Pat

• Westle(e) Waterles 1285 Ass 1290 Cl 1297 Abbr 1308 Colexviii

• Westle(e) Waterlees 1285 Ass

• Westle(e) cum Burgo 1341 NI

• Westle al. Westerle 1428 FA

• Westle Waterle(e) 1455,1485 Colexviii 1490 Ipm

• Westle Waterle 1508 PCC

• Westley Waterless 1599 ib

• Westele, Westeleye 1254 Val 1391 Cl 1445 Pat

• Westelee Waterlees 1541 PCC

• Westeley, Westeley Waterlesse al. Westley Waterleyes 1556 Pat

• Westeley Watlesse 1559 Rental

• Westerle 1291 Tax

Etymology

'West lēah.' Westley is west of Dullingham Ley and south-west of Stetchworth Ley. The whole district was, however, probably once well wooded and it may have been called simply lēah . Waterless is a corruption of Waterlees , containing the plural of lēah . Hence 'water clearings.' Dr Palmer points out that there is no lack of water here.Burgo is the neighbouring Burrough Green supra 115. This must be the manor in Radfield Hundred held in 1185 by Agnes de Valuines (RotDom) which Farrer (106) places in Stetchworth. Gunnora was the grand-daughter of Agnes.