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.

Fobbing Horse, Lower Horse

Early-attested site in the Parish of Corringham

Historical Forms

  • Horsehill iuxta Pisteley t.Eliz LP
  • Wyfelespete 13th Colch
  • Horshoce 13th WalthamA
  • Horsehok 1521 MinAcct

Etymology

Fobbing Horse, Lower Horse (6″). Cf. Horshill ', Horhull '1203 Cur, Horshell 1348 IpmR, le Horse 1549FF , Horswell or Orcell 1569 M. Probably 'mud-hill,' from OE  horsc and hyll . scylf is also possible, cf. Horsell (PN Sr 128), Horkesley infra 392–3 and also the lost Wodeham horse and Sea horse (in Canvey)1563 M. hill is here used of the saltings in Vange and Holehaven Creeks, described as a marsh in 1203.The Curia Regis forms are assigned by the editor to Horse; they refer to either Fobbing or Lower Horse. Between the two, on Canvey Island, is Upper Horse. Fobbing Horse is Horsehill iuxta Pisteley (i.e. Pitsea) t. ElizLP . Farther north we find mention also of “lez hoppettes on the west side of Willyspitt Flete (? Pitsea Creek) called Wyllyspitt horse of which two, namely Knolford and Antelyche , lie in Pytsey, and the third called Willyspitt (Wyfelespete 13th Colch) lies in Bowerys Gyfford” (1555 Pat). Fobbing because near Fobbing Marsh. Lower because nearer the sea than Upper Horse. Vange Creek, north of Fobbing Horse, is probably the same as Horshoce 13thWalthamA , Horsehok 1521MinAcct . v. Vange infra 174. Horswerd , a marsh belonging to Walter le Kenteys (Chanteis ) of Horndon (ib., v. Canters Shaw infra 157–8), may belong here or may mean 'horse marsh,' v. Labworth supra 148.

Places in the same Parish