Dimin Dale
Early-attested site in the Parish of Taddington
Historical Forms
- unum valey vocatum Dymmyngysdale, ubi spiritus sunt tormentati, qui est mirabilis introitus terre de Peke, ubi anime cruciantur c.1460 WWorc
- Dymyng(s)dale c.1460 ib
- Dyminges Dale 1617 Senior
- Demons Dale 1795 EnclA
Etymology
Dimin Dale (6″), unum valey vocatum Dymmyngysdale , ubi spiritus sunt tormentati , qui est mirabilis introitus terre de Peke , ubi anime cruciantur c. 1460 WWorc, Dymyng (s )dale c. 1460 ib, Dyminges Dale 1617Senior , Demons Dale 1795EnclA . This is a difficult name, apparently found elsewhere in the county infra 213, 358 and 627. It is also perhaps to be compared with Dimsdale St. The frequent occurrence of the name would indicate that the first element can hardly be a pers.n. as is suggested by the gen. ending of the first element but no suggestion for it can be made. William of Worcester clearly interpreted the name as 'demons' valley' but this is purely popular etymology. The name also appears as Dymsdale Wood (PN D 86) and the editors there note “As the element dale is otherwise unknown in Devon the name can hardly be of local origin”. There can be little doubt that it is a transferred name from either Db or St, taken there by miners impressed into work in the royal stannaries in the southwest, cf. infra 710.