Mouldridge Grange
Early-attested site in the Parish of Brassington
Historical Forms
- Moldrid c.1215 Dunst
- Moldrichyt 1249 DunstAn
- Moldrich, Moldrych(e) 1252 DunstAn 1285 For 1330 Ass 1381 SR
- Molderiche Grange 1539 BelCh
- Mowderich 1535 Val
- Meldrik 1276 RH
- Moldrikgraunge 1332 Middleton
- Malderych 1381 SR
- Molderigge 1467 DbCh
- The grange of Moldridge 1545 DbAxxvii
- Moldrydge graunge 1547 MinAcct
- Muldrige Graunge alias Muldrygge Graunge 1558 Pat
- Muldrig(g)e 1559 FF
- Mould(e)ridg(e) Grange 1599 DuLaSC 1789 Noble
Etymology
This is a difficult name for which no certain solution is possible.The first element may be OE molda 'top of the head', with the sense also of 'hill', as Ekwall (Studies 195) suggests. The second element is probably OE ric, the exact meaning of which is uncertain, but seems to denote 'a stream', 'a narrow road', 'a strip of land', cf. Escrick (PN ERY 267–9) and Lindridge Ho infra 507. The place is near the head of one of the arms of Gratton Dale, a dry valley, which forms the western end of a high pass cutting a long ridge of over 1000'; ric , therefore, may here have the sense 'narrow pass'. The grange belonged to Dunstable Priory, v. grange .