Bow
Major Settlement in the Parish of Bow
Historical Forms
- Limet 1086 DB
- Nymeton 1259 Ch
- Nymetbogh(e) 1270,1311 Ass
- Nimetebowe, Nymetbowe 1281 Ass
- Nymytbowe 1394 Ass
- Nemethe Tracy 1270–6 Exon
- Nymet Tracy 1274 Ipm
- Nimia Tracy 1326 Cl, Orig
- la Bogh 1281 Ass
- Boghe 1343 Pat
- Chapel Sancti Martini de Bowe 1400 Exon
- Nymettracy al. Bowe 1600 Recov
Etymology
The 'bow' was perhaps the arched bridge over the river Yeo here, cf. PN Mx 8, PN Wo 10. Otherwise, one must take it to refer to the curving hill at this point. For Nymet , v. supra 18, 348.Oliver de Trascy held the manor in 1212 (Fees 99), a member of the Honour of Barnstaple. The original site of the settlement was at Nymet Tracy where the church is. Later the centre of population shifted to Bow on the main road from Exeter to Launceston.