Botlands Blawith (field)
Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Clifton
Historical Forms
- Blawathlinays c.1330 Hesley
- Stallardlinays c.1330 Hesley
- Botland 1789 LowtherW
Etymology
The first element in the 14th-century form is 'dark ford,' v. blá(r), vað . The second element looks like the plural of ME linhay , 'shed,' but this word seems to be specifically a south-western form, and here, as also in Stallardlinays c. 1330Hesley , in this parish, a compound līn-, (ge)hæg, 'flax enclosure,' is more probable. No explanation can be given of Botlands in the modern name. It occurs again in the existing Botlands and Lords Botland—fields in this parish—and in Botland 1789LowtherW , also in this parish.