Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wullebrigg 1244 Ass

• Wllebrygg 1291 Tax

• Wulbryge 1535 VE

• 'bridge of Welles' 1279 Ch

• Wele(s)brigg 1283 Banco 1303 FA

• Wellebrigge 1318 Ch 1343 IpmR

• Wellebrugge 1353 Pat

• Wellesbrigg 1346 FA

• (tabernam in ville de)Wolbrigg 1288 Ass

• Wolbrygge 1428 FA

• Wolbridge 1578 AD

• Wolleberg 1316 FA

• Wol(l)ebrigg(e) 1343 Misc 1344 Cerne 14

• Wollesbrigg 1344 14 ib

• Wolle bridge 1535–43 Leland

• Wool(l) Bridge Eliz Rent

• (chapel of)Wool(l) Bridge 1794 DCMDeed 1811 OS

• 'grange of Woolbridge' 1582 Hutch3 c.1628 Strode

Etymology

'The bridge near Wool', v. Wool par. infra , brycg ; this is an important crossing of R. Frome. In 1774 Hutch1 1156 the present bridge (probably 16th-cent.) is described as 'a large bridge of stone of five arches' and the farm as 'now converted into a farmhouse… formerly a neat and elegant building of brick', cf. RCHMDo 2 275, 406. The grange here possibly belonged to Bindon Abbey; a chapel is marked on the 6″ map. The 14th-cent. spelling -berge shows metathesis of r .