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.

Woodbridge (Fm), Hr Wood Bridge, Lr Wood Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Holwell

Historical Forms

  • Wudebrige 1194 P
  • la Wdebrigge Hy3 Cerne 14
  • la Wudebrug' 1251 Cl 1268 Ass
  • (la) Wodebrigg(') 1256 FF 1268 ib
  • (atte) Wodebrugg' 1258 For
  • (la) Wudebrigg' 1268 ib
  • Woodebridge 1569–74 Map
  • Wood Bridge (Fm) 1811 OS

Etymology

Woodbridge (Fm) (ST 712123), Hr Wood Bridge, Lr Wood Bridge, Wudebrige 1194 P, la Wdebrigge Hy 3 (14) Cerne, la Wudebrug '1251 Cl (p), 1268Ass (p), (la ) Wodebrigg (')1256 FF (p), 1268Ass , ib (p), (atte ) Wodebrugg '1258For (p), (la ) Wudebrigg '1268Ass , ib (p), Woodebridge 1569–74Map , Wood Bridge (Fm )1811 OS, probably 'the wooden bridge' rather than 'the bridge in or by a wood', v. wudu , brycg , cf. Woodbridge in Fontmell M. par. supra . The Sherborne-Sturminster N. road crosses Caundle Brook here.