Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Arish Mell Gap 1861 Hutch3

• Arsmyll 1454 Ct

• Arestmiss (a bay) 1579 Hutch3

• Arish Mill 1634,1790 1811 OS

• Arishmell Beach, Arishmell Cliff, Arishmell Rd 1841 TA

• 'the mill of Lulleworth' 1234(1279),1279 Ch

• Mill Down 1841 TA

• Muldon 1417 Weld1

• Mildon(nesfete) 1438 Ct

• Mildon, Myldon 1461,Ed4 Rent 1484,1663 Weld1

• Myldown 1664 ib

• Mulborn Close 1841 TA

Etymology

Arish Mell (SY 855803), Arish Mell Gap 1861 Hutch3, Arsmyll 1454Ct , Arestmiss (a bay )1579 Hutch3, Arish Mill 1634, 1790 ib, 1811 OS, Arishmell Beach , Arishmell Cliff , Arishmell Rd 1841TA ; the first el. is ears 'fundament, buttock', no doubt with reference to some topographical feature (Arish Mell is on the coast at a gap in the chalk cliffs), with myln ; the first el. has been influenced by SCy  dial. arrish 'stubble field' (v. ersc ); for earlier speculation about the meaning of 'this beautiful name', v. Arkell (1941) 34. There is no mill here now, but it is possibly that referred to as 'the mill of Lulleworth '1234 (1279), 1279 Ch, and it certainly gave name to Mill Down 1841TA (Muldon 1417Weld 1, Mildon (nesfete ) (probably for Mildonnesfote ) 1438Ct , Mildon , Myldon 1461, Ed 4Rent , 1484, 1663Weld 1, Myldown 1664ib , v. dūn, fōt, used of the chalk down W of Arish Mell), and the nearby Mulborn Close 1841TA ('mill stream', marked on TAMap , v. burna ), cf. also Walter (le ) Muleward 1327SR , 1332 SR (< OE  myle(n)weard 'miller').