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.

Grave's Hall

Early-attested site in the Parish of Sible Hedingham

Historical Forms

  • Graueshales 1348,1430 Cunnington
  • Gravesall(e)s ffen 1567,1570 Ct
  • Grassalles(fenne) 1547 HarlR 1593–8 Ct
  • Grasselles 1593 ib

Etymology

Grave's Hall represents the terram Johannis de Grauassale vocat ' Le Hamstal and the manor of Graueshales (1348, 1430Cunnington ), Gravesall (e )s ffen 1567, 1570Ct , Grassalles (fenne )1547HarlR , 1593–8Ct , Grasselles 1593 ib. Ralph and Adam Gra (n )suassal , Grasuassal had land here (1251 Cl, 1254 FF, 1248–54Ass ), whilst John de Graveshale (sic) held a knight's fee here (1373 Cl). The name has been mis-divided and should really be Graveshall 's Hall or Grassall 's, a form that survives in the neighbouring wood in Great Yeldham infra 469. Cf. Hawke's Hall infra 463 from Havekeshale . v. hamsteall , fenn .