Black Down
Early-attested site in the Parish of Winterborne Steepleton
Historical Forms
- Blakedon' 1269 Ilch
- Blakedoun(e) 1399,1400 ib
- Blackdowne 1565 Fry
- Blagdon or Blackdown Hill 1774 Hutch1
- Black Down 1764 EnclA 1811 OS
- Blagdon (sic) 1839 TA
Etymology
Black Down (SY 614877), Blakedon '1269Ilch , Blakedoun (e )1399, 1400ib , Blackdowne 1565Fry , Blagdon or Blackdown Hill 1774 Hutch1, Black Down 1764EnclA , 1811 OS, Blagdon (sic)1839TA , 'dark- coloured down or hill', from blæc (wk. obl. blacan ) and dūn , cf. the identical Blackdown and Blagdon Hills in Broadwindsor par. infra and Blagdon 2207. Black Down reaches 777′ at the S edge of the par. and gives name to Blagdon Barn infra as well as to Black Down Barn in Lt Bredy par., Black Down Barn & Black Down Plant. in Portisham par. both supra and to Blagdon Barn in Winterborne St M. 1 376.