Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Kingessetle Hy3 Cerne 14 For 1247 1270

• Kaingessetle Hy3 Cerne 14

• Kyngesettl 1268 Ass

• Kyng(g)essecle (juxta Scheftebyry) 1275 RH 1280 QW

• Kyngessete (sic) 1280 ib

• King(es)(h)ech(e), Kynges(h)ech(e) (sic) 1280 Ass

• Kingessettle 1285 FA

• Kyng(g)esset(t)le 1292 GillCt 1327 SR 1332 SR 1335 For 1338–40 Glast 1340 NI

• Kynsettle 1369 Pat

• Kynges(s)etle, Kyngsetell', Kyngsetellane 1441 GillCt

• Kyngessetyls lane 1501 ib

• the hill called Kingsettel 1568 Hutch3

• (closes called) Nether Kingsettles, (closes called) Over Kingsettles 1609 LRMB

• Kingseth (sic) 1618 Map

• King Settle 1620 Hutch3

• Kingsettle Fm 1811 OS

• Kingsettles Copse, Kingsettles Ho 1838 TA

Etymology

Kingsettle Fm (ST 862257) & Kingsettle Wd, Kingessetle Hy 3 (14) Cerne, 1247 (1270) For , Kaingessetle Hy 3 (14) Cerne, Kyngesettl 1268Ass (p), Kyng (g )essecle (juxta Scheftebyry )1275 RH (p), 1280 QW, Kyngessete (sic)1280 ib, King (es )(h )ech (e ), Kynges (h )ech (e ) (sic)1280Ass , Kingessettle 1285 FA (p), Kyng (g )esset (t )le 1292GillCt (p), 1327SR (p), 1332 SR (p), 1335For (p), 1338–40 Glast, 1340 NI (p), Kynsettle 1369 Pat (p), Kynges (s )etle , Kyngsetell ', Kyngsetellane 1441GillCt , Kyngessetyls lane 1501ib , the hill called Kingsettel 1568 Hutch3, (closes called ) Nether Kingsettles , (closes called ) Over Kingsettles 1609LRMB , Kingseth (sic)1618Map , King Settle 1620 Hutch3, Kingsettle Fm 1811 OS, Kingsettles Copse , Kingsettles Ho 1838TA , literally 'king's seat', from cyning and setl , perhaps as suggested by Fägersten 29 used as a hill-name to indicate a lofty situation, cf. the analogous Kingsettle (Hill) So (DEPN). The farm (at 450′) and the wood (at 500–700′) lie on the slope of a hill that reaches 800′. On the other hand, since the place lies within the old royal forest of Gillingham (v. Forest Fm & Side in Gillingham par. supra ), there may well have been a royal lodge or the like here to which the name referred, cf. King's Court Palace supra . As noted by Fägersten 29, a tradition (cited in J. J. Reynolds, The Ancient History of Shaftesbury , p.7) that the place owes its name to Alfred's resting here on his way to the battle of Edington in 878, need not be taken too seriously.