Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wall Farm 1839 TA

• Wall 1811 OS 1863 Hutch3

• atte Welle 1327 SR

• atte Walle 1332 SR 1340 NI

Etymology

Wall Fm (ST 426015), Wall Farm 1839TA , Wall 1811 OS, 1863 Hutch3 (a farm).This place is referred to in the surname of John atte Welle (a taxpayer in this par.) 1327 SR, also recorded as John atte Walle 1332 SR, 1340 NI.An even earlier reference confirms that the first of these spellings is correct: in 1251–2 Fees Ivo de Ilesdon tenet Welle et Neweham , this last being identified with Newnham in Broadwindsor par. supra which lies just ½ mile WNW from here. The early Welle forms indicate that the origin is wella , well(e) 'a spring'; in fact the farm lies at the head of a valley in which a stream rises, and a spring is marked 6″ close to the farm. The spellings in wall (e ) are unlikely to represent dial. variants of well (e ) in this area, but rather suggest early confusion with the distinct el. wall .