Horseham Hall
Early-attested site in the Parish of Helion Bumpstead
Historical Forms
- Ersham 1086 DB
- Hersham 1221 FF 1244–55 Ch
- Aula de Hersham 1286 Pinchbeck 1346 FA
- Hersam 1086 DB 1230 FF
- Heresham 1233–54 Pat
- Horsham Haull 1558 Queens
- Hersham-hall 1768 M
Etymology
Horseham Hall is Ersham 1086 DB, Hersham ib., 1221 FF, 1244–55 Ch, Aula de Hersham 1286 Pinchbeck, 1346 FA, Hersam 1086 DB, 1230 FF, Heresham 1233–54 Pat, Horsham Haull 1558Queens .Hersham-hall 1768 M. Possibly 'the ham of one Her .' For the name cf. PN Do 127s. n. Herston. The rarity of any sign of the inflexional e in the early forms is however surprising, and it is possible that we have a lost OE herse denoting a hill, discussed by Wallenberg s. n. Hersden (PN K 515). The modern form is a phonetic spelling of the local dialectal pronunciation, cf. swawth for swath , ajaw for ajar (Gepp).