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.

Latchford

Major Settlement in the Parish of Grappenhall

Historical Forms

  • Lachford R1 (1666) Orm2, Tab
  • Lach(e)ford 1250–55 Whall 1288,1289 Court 1305 et freq
  • Lach(e)forde 1399 Cl
  • Lachford 1622 Earw
  • Lachford iuxta Werynton, Lachford iuxta Werington, Lachford iuxta Warington 1417 Vern 1436
  • Latch(e)ford 1382,1391 ChRR
  • Lechefordia 13 Bun
  • Leccheford 1499 ChRR
  • Lachisford 1288,1289 Court
  • Lachiford 1289 ib
  • Locheforde 1391 ArlB
  • Liccheford 1499 ChRR

Etymology

'Ford at a boggy place', v. læc(c), lece , ford . An 'ancient ford' is marked in 1842 OS at 101–619876 at an isthmus formed by a loop of the Mersey to 101–622875, in the south part of Old Warps, now Victoria Park, Warrington, v. 139supra . It was superseded by Warrington Bridge infra . The ford carried across the Mersey the Roman road from Warrington to Northwich, v. 143. The ford and the bridge formed a medieval passagium into Ch, cf. cheminum de Lachford R1 (1666) Orm2 i603, passagium pontis de Weryngton 1397 Orm2, le chemin de Lacheford 1519 ChRR (DKR xxxix154), passagium in villa de Lacheford 1250–55 Whallet freq , cf. Wilderspool Causeway infra .