Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (in campo de) Belasis(e) 1221 ElyA 1251 ElyCouch 1277 Ely 1279 RH

• Belsar(y)esfield 1575 Rental

• Bels(a)iesfield c.1840 TA

• Belsyes, Belseys field 1622 EAxiii

• Bellses(s) Field 1754 Venn 1803 CHuASi

• Belches Field 1799 ib

• Belchers Field 1816 ib

• Belsars Hills 16th Cai

• Belsair hills a.1760 EAxiii

• in fossatis de Belasis 1251 ElyCouch

Etymology

Belsars Field is (in campo de ) Belasis (e )1221ElyA , 1251ElyCouch , 1277Ely , 1279 RH, Belsar (y )esfield 1575Rental , Bels (a )iesfield ib., c. 1840TA , Belsyes , Belseys field 1622 EA xiii, Bellses (s ) Field 1754 Venn, 1803 CHuAS i, Belches Field 1799 ib., Belchers Field 1816 ib. Belsar's Hill is Belsars Hills 16thCai , Belsair hills a. 1760 EA xiii. Belsar's Hill is an earthwork described by Camden (ed. Gibson 410) as “a rampart nigh Audre, not high, but very large, called Belsar's Hills, from one Belisar; but what he was I know not.” The camp lies on the edge of the fen, commanding the southern approaches to Aldreth Causeway, the chief land-route into the Isle of Ely from the south (v. Fox 137, 155). Its ditches are referred to in the phrase in fossatis de Belasis 1251ElyCouch . The name is the common OFr  bel assis , 'beautiful seat,' found in Bellasis (PN NbDu 16), Bellasize (PN ERY 245), Belsize (PN Nth 232, PN Mx 112). Cf. also Belassise (Whittlesey) c. 1291Thorney and Bellasses (Linton) 1411WMP . The forms as given above effectively dispose of Camden's Belisar .