English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Watervale

Early-attested site in the Parish of Brentor

Historical Forms

  • Waterfale 1167 P
  • Watrifalla t.Hy2 Oliver
  • Waterfalle 1282 Ch 1328 Tax 1291
  • Waterifalla 1330 SR

Etymology

The OE  form is wætergefeal and the ge has left its trace in the i of the second and last forms. Higher Watervale Fm is nearly a mile from the fall, but Lower Watervale is not far from it.