Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Maydencastel 1285 For

• syke called Carthanacke, Carthonock 1589 LRMB

• Carthonacke, Carthonocke 1604 ib

• syke called Carthanack 1749 Terrier

Etymology

This is described by Hutchinson (i, 442) as “an ancient fort or encampment, called Caer -Thannock ; the country people give it the name of Maiden Castle. ” The first element of Caer -Thannock is Welsh  caer ; the second is a personal name.

The name Maiden Castle is applied to a number of earthworks, usually prehistoric, the most striking of which is on Fordington Hill, 2 miles south-west of Dorchester; see R. E. M. Wheeler, Maiden Castle , Dorset , esp. pp. 6–14 (Oxford 1943). Wheeler states that the earliest vernacular example of the name (Maidencastell 1173 and 1175–86) is probably to be identified with the entrenchment west of Saxton (WRY), now known as Becca Banks. The name is repeated at least six times—in Eskdale (infra 392), Stainmoor (We, Roman), Broxton (Ch), Falkirk (Stirlingshire), Falkland (Fife) and Collessie (Fife), for none of which have we been able to find forms earlier than the 16th century. Along with these may be taken Maidenburg (= Castle Hill, Cambridge) and Mayd (en )bury (perhaps Melbourn Bury) recorded in PN C 39 and 29, Mawbray in Holme St Cuthbert (Roman, v. infra 296), and possibly Mayburgh in Yanwath and Eamont Bridge (We); there is however no trace of an earthwork of any kind that could have given its name to Medbury (PN BedsHu 71) or Maidenburgh St in Colchester (PN Ess 371). The second element of Maiden Bower in Dunstable (Beds) and in Steeple Barton (O), both prehistoric earthworks, has doubtless been modified in accordance with a view that a bower is more appropriate to a maiden than a burgh .

The sense may be 'virgin fortress,' that never has been, or never can be, taken (as Péronne was styled la Pucelle ), or 'maidens' castle,' one so strong that it can be defended by girls or is a suitable refuge for them (as Geoffrey of Monmouth, ii, 7, applied castellum puellarum to Edinburgh Castle). This type of name was not confined to western Europe; thus a Byzantine fortress in Macedonia is called Avret Hissar or Γυυαικóκασôñï , and the best-known example of the Arabic Qar-el- Banāt, 'castle of the maidens,' is on the road from Aleppo to Antioch.