Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Framilade 1086,1138 Glouc 1138 P

• Framilod(e), Framylod(e) 1139–48 Glouc 1248 Ass 1504 Ipm 1557 FF 1575 GR547

• Framyload(e) 1617 Rec 1642 PR

• Framyload(e) passage 1577 M

• Fremelad(e) 12,1199–1220 WinchLB 1176 P 1270 For 1316 WinchLB

• Fremelode 1288,1316 Glouc 1367 FF

• Fremlad 1326 WinchLB

• Freemelode 1368 Works

• Framelode 1154–89 Glouc 1501 Ipm

• Frameloode 1382 FF

• Fromelod(e) 1154–89 Glouc 1287 Ass 1291 Tax 1676 PR

• Fromelade 1287 Ass

• Fromelowde 1584 FF

• Fromilode, Fromylode 1236 Theok 1267 Glouc 1593 FF 1654 PR

• Fromylade c.1265 Misc

• Fromlode c.1250 Berk 1422 IpmR 1503 Hopt

• Fromlode passadge 1595 Comm

• Framlode 1424 MinAcct 1501 Ipm

Etymology

'The Frome crossing', v. Frome (1) (i, 7supra ), (ge)lād, and for the use of this word for crossings of the Severn cf. Lower Lode (65supra ). Framilode Passage is a ferry across the Severn ¼ mile below the outfall of the small river Frome into it. Many forms show in the medial -i - the retention of the OE  prefix ge - (cf. Abloads Court 152supra ); this suffix appears to have caused i -mutation of OE  Frōm - to Frēm - to give the ME  Freme - spellings (Ekwall, RN 167) and the name must therefore be very ancient; the process had been completed before the earliest records of Old English begin in the late 7th century (cf. Introd.).