Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Holy-Rood Fm 1841 TAMap

Etymology

Holyrood Fm (ST 864224), Holy -Rood Fm 1841TAMap , cf. (bequest) to þære halgan rode 1015 (e11) ASWills, pratum Abbatisse vocat ' holyrodemede 1407Shaft , 1441Wim , Holowroudemede 1447 Hutch3, Hollie Rood Meade 1641 ShaftMR, Holy Rood Estate , Holy Rood Md 1782Eg , Holy Rood Mdw 1840TA , 'the holy cross', v. hālig , rōd 2 with mǣd .Professor Whitelock notes: 'I have not found any other reference to the holy cross there [i.e. at the Abbey]. Possibly Shaftesbury received a portion of the wood of the true cross sent to Alfred (Asser chapter 71) or it may have possessed a famous crucifix like the Holy Cross of Waltham' (ASWills 58). Cf. also the chantry and altar of the Holy Cross noted under Abbey Ho supra .