Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Weseford(') 1204 P 1278 Pat 1344 Cl 1393 DCMDeed

• Wesard', Weseford Lane, Weseford Hill 15 NatT

• Wes(e)ford(e)lane 1464,1473,1484 Digby

• Wesefordbrygge 1484 Digby

• Weysfordes lane, Weyswardbryge 1516 Digby

• Wayesworthelane 1563 Digby

• Wesworthe bridge 1569–74 Map

Etymology

Wizard Bridge (ST 656126), Weseford (')1204 P, 1278 Pat, 1344 Cl, 1393DCMDeed , Wesard ', Weseford Lane , Weseford Hill 15NatT , Wes (e )ford (e )lane 1464, 1473, 1484Digby , Wesefordbrygge 1484Digby , Weysfordes lane , Weyswardbryge 1516Digby , Wayesworthelane 1563Digby , Wesworthe bridge 1569–74Map , v. ford , lane , brycg . The first el. may be wise 'river, swamp', the e - spellings perhaps being due either to AN influence or to the lengthening of i in an open syllable, cf. Wisbech Ca 292 which has e (y )- spellings from 1342. For the late development of the second el. to -(w )ard and confusion with worth , cf. Hayward Bridge in Ch. Okeford par. supra and Dibberford in Broadwindsor par. infra .