Writtle
Major Settlement in the Parish of Writtle
Historical Forms
- Writelam 1086 DB
- Writelam(a) 1138–54 Colch 1212 Fees 1241 For
- Writelea 1175 P
- Writel(e) 1190 1198 Colch 1217 Pat
- Writil' 1219 Fees
- Wrytel(e) 1246 Pap 1274 RH
- Wrtele 1135–54 HMCvii
- Writhele 1204 ClR
- Writ(t)l(e) 1218 Pap 1219 Fees 1303 FA
- Writtele 1218 Pap 1251 Ch
- Wiritelā 1086 DB
- Wiritelle, Wiritile 1291 Pap
- Writa 1086 DB
- Wrot(t)el(la) 1318,1484 Pat
- Wretele 1339 Ipm 1356 Cl
- Wretill 1535 VE
- Wrettle parke 1594 N
- Wrikell, Wrekill 1498 Ipm
- Wyrtle 1523 LP
- Ritle 1657 EssPRii
Etymology
The place takes its name from Writolaburna (BCS 81), the old name of the River Wid. “The river-name is a substantiva- tion of an OE adj. writol from OE writian , wreotian , 'to chirp, chatter.'…The babbling, purling stream” (Ekwall RN 475).