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.

Oldaport

Early-attested site in the Parish of Modbury

Historical Forms

  • La Yoldeporte 1310 FF
  • La Porte in parochia de Modbury 1332 Exon

Etymology

'The old port ,' referring to the curious fortified remains here by a creek of the Erme estuary. “There are remains of walls and round towers, by some esteemed Roman work. They are a puzzle to the antiquary, and only the spade will determine to what period they belong.” (LGS.)