Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Pontasia 1196×1208 SurteesIII228

• a Ponte Teyse c.1200 SurteesIII229

• ponti de Puntays early13th Spec

• Pontayse 1235,1235×6 Ass

• Pountays 1379 SurteesIII242 1380 ib

• Pountese 1426 SurteesIII228

• Pountes 1512,1514 IPM

• Ponteys 1552 SurteesIII232

Etymology

'Tees bridge', OFr  pont + r.n. Tees on the model of Fr p.ns. such as Pontarion, Creuse, on the Taurion, Pont-Aven, Finistère, on the Aven, Pontoise, Seine-et-Oise, on the Oise. This was formerly one of the major routes into Durham on the line of the Roman road from Barmby to Durham, Margary no. 80a. “The defences on each side of the river prove the importance which was attached to the pass, and as long as Sadberge retained any consequence, this probably continued to be the chief entry into the county from the South” (Surtees III228). The route was guarded by the fortification on Tower Hill. Surtees did not know the date of the destruction of the bridge but associated its decay with the decline in importance of Sadberge. In his day some foundations were still visible about 300 yards below the Sulphur Well in Dinsdale.