Gallant Le Bower
Early-attested site in the Parish of Holne
Historical Forms
- Gallant Bower 1809 M
Etymology
Cf. Gallants Bower 1758Recov , apparently in Exminster parish. Gallant Bower and Gallantry Bower are names occurring elsewhere in England, possibly referring to secluded spots suitable for lovers' meeting-places. 'Gallant Le' may be a corruption of 'Gallantry.'Miss Lega-Weekes, however, has shown (DA 61, 237) that Gallants Bower in Dartmouth, though spelt Gallante 's Bower in 1646, was earlier Galions Boure (1463 Pat ). This suggests that in some cases, at least where the name occurs on the coast, we may have reference to some secluded spot which gave shelter to galleons or other ships.