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.

Priorsdale

Early-attested site in the Parish of Alston

Historical Forms

  • Presdale 1280,1292 Ass 1479 Hexham
  • Prysedale 1631 Derwent
  • Pryorsdale 1632 ib
  • Priestdale al. Pryorsdale 1699 DKRxli

Etymology

The 1699 form suggests 'Priest(s') valley,' v. dæl , with substitution of prior 's for priest 's , due to the ownership of the place by the Priory of Hexham (H i, 214). But, as Professor Ekwall argues, the first element may be the British word found in Prees (Sa) and Preese (La), Welsh  pres , 'brushwood, fuel,' Cornish pres , 'meadow' (PN La 153).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name

Major Settlement