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.

Holwell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Radipole

Historical Forms

  • Halegewelle 1086 DB
  • Halghewell 1244 Ass
  • Halghwell juxta Brodeweye 1307 FF
  • Holewill 1244 Ass
  • Hallewill 1268 Ass
  • Brodewaye Hallewolle 1285 FA
  • Halwell [Hathewelle] 1303 ib
  • Halwell 1510 MP 1544 PlR
  • Halewell 1346,1431 FA 1481 Ct 1486 Weld1
  • Halewolle 1428 FA
  • Halewyll(e) 1457 Ct 1464 DCMCt 1465 Weld1
  • Hellewelle 1327 SR
  • Hellewoull 1332 SR
  • Helewell 1388 Fine
  • Holwey 1445 Rent
  • Holywell 1530 Weld1
  • Hol(i)well or Holeway 1795 Boswell 1863 Hutch3

Etymology

'Holy well, spring or stream', v. hālig , wella , cf. Broadwey par. supra ; it stands near a small stream an affluent of which rises nearby (marked 6″); the spellings in Hel (l )e - probably show confusion with Elwell in Upwey par. infra which is 1½ miles NE.