Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Forda 1136 PND 1340 CartAnt 1204 FF 1237 Ass 1244

• Abbatie de Ford(e) 1189 CartAnt

• conuentu' de Abbatie 1199 1227 FF

• Forde Abbatis 1268 Pat

• Fourde 1343–7 Ipm

• Furde 1454 Weld1

• Foorde, Fordde, Thabb(a)y of Fo(u)rde 1551 AddCh

Etymology

Forde Abbey (ST 359052), Forda 1136 (1340) PN D, 1204 CartAnt, 1237 FF, 1244Ass , Abbatie de Ford (e )1189 CartAnt, conuentu ' de Abbatie 1199 ib, 1227 FF et passim , Forde Abbatis 1268 Pat, Fourde 1343–7 Ipm, Furde 1454Weld 1, Foorde , Fordde , Thabb (a )y of Fo (u )rde 1551AddCh , 'the ford', a crossing of R. Axe, v. ford , abbeye . The Cistercian abbey was founded in 1141, according to the foundation charter on a site called Hartescath 'hart wood', from heorot and sceaga (PN D 648, Hutch3 4526). The site of the abbey church is marked 6″, cf. Sancte Marie de Ford (a )JohnAddCh , Ecclesie de Forde monachorum 1230 Hutch3, 'the new chapel of St Mary, La Forde '1306 Pat. There is mention of 'the mill within the abbey' 1343 Ch.