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.

Hay Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of West Orchard

Historical Forms

  • Hay Bridge 1840 TA
  • High bridge fild(e), Hygh bridge fild(e) 1576 Glyn
  • Haybridge 1791 Boswell

Etymology

Hay Bridge (ST 825163), Hay Bridge 1840TA , High bridge fild (e ), Hygh bridge fild (e )1576Glyn , Haybridge 1791 Boswell, cf. anlang higweges þ ' of higeweges ande ('along hay way, then from the end of hay way') in the Anglo-Saxon bounds of W Orchard 939 (15) ShaftR (S 445); this higweg apparently describes the course of the present Fishey Lane in E Orchard par. supra which turns sharply to cross Manston Brook at Hay Bridge, v. (e)g, weg , ende ; there are two instances of the same name in the Anglo-Saxon charters of Brk 715, 726, cf. also Highway W 269.

Places in the same Parish