Chingford
Major Settlement in the Parish of Chingford
Historical Forms
- Cingeford 11th KCD913 14th
- Cing(h)efort 1086 DB
- Ching(e)ford(e), Chyng(e)ford(e) 1181,1222 StP 1463 Pat
- Ching(e)ford(e) Comit', Ching(e)ford(e)Paule 1543 MinAcct
- Chinggeford 1303 FA
- Chingesford 1181 StP
- Chagingeford 1219 Bracton
- Chin(c)k(e)ford(e) 1219 Bracton 1286 Cl 1535 VE 1585 Kennedy 1625 Ct
- Chynkeford(e) 1536,1544 LP
- Chingelford, Chyngelford 1242–4 FF 1349 Pap
- Cheng(g)ilford 1291 Tax
- Chyngelleford 1332 Cl
- Chyngleford 1440 Pat
- Chilgelforde t.Hy3 Ipm
- Chigford 1274 IpmR
- Gingeford 1276 For
- Gyng(e)ford (de parte Sanncti Pauli) 1285 Ass
- Gingford Hache 1487 W'stowW
- Chyngelesford 1277 QW
- Chinglesford 1311,1330 Pat 1311 RBE
- Synglesford 1311 ChancW
- Singlesford 1311 Misc
- Schingelford 1327 Ipm
- Shingelford 1346 FA
- Shyngilford 1383,1386 Pat
- Shingleford 1383 IpmR 1384 Cl
- Shyngleford 1432 Pat 1535 VE
- Shingilford 1460 EAS(NS)ii
- Shingesford 1386 Cl
- Shyngford(e) 1389 Pat 1391 Cl 1412 FA 1485 W'stowW
- Shingford 1541 ib
- Chynegford 1428 FA
- Chengeford 1544 LP
Etymology
This is a difficult name. It has been explained as 'shingleford,' but we should not expect this parish-name to contain a Norse word. The identification of Bracton's Chagingeford is certain and the form should probably be regarded as genuine.Early reductions of such names are not uncommon; cf. Pangbourne (Berks), Pægainga , Peginga burnan 844 BCS 443, Pangeborne DB, Scrayingham (ERY), Escraingham , Screngham , Escringham DB, Rainham (K)Roeginga ham 811 BCS 335, Raenham Domesday Monachorum, and Quainton (PN Bk 108).The original form of the name was probably cægingaford , 'the ford of the dwellers by the stumps,' cf. Cheam (PN Sr 43–4).The ford was perhaps at Cook's Ferry. A path is still marked on the 6″ O.S. (1897) from old Chingford Church to Chingford Hall, the manor-house, and this may preserve an old track from Chingford across the Lea to Edmonton. A little further south, near the mouth of the Ching, remains of pile-dwellings were discovered in excavating for the reservoirs near Higham Hill in 1869, 1895 and 1901. Records of the discoveries are unsatisfactory, but piles some 4 ft. 6 ins. high were seen in situ (Hatley, Walthamstow Archæologv 16, 26) and the pile-dwellings probably covered a considerable area. The existence of some such stakes may have given rise to this name. Later, the gravel in the neighbourhood led to confusion with shingle (v. NED s. v .).