Downington
Early-attested site in the Parish of Lechlade
Historical Forms
- Downend Towne 1637 Inq
- Downinton 1746 GR540
- Downing Town 1822 M
Etymology
Downington, 1606FF , Downend Towne 1637 Inq, Downinton 1746GR 540, Downing Town 1822 M. Probably a late name meaning 'the part of the village at the lower end of Lechlade Down', v. dūn , ende , tūn (toun ); ME ende often becomes -ing in Gl as in the spellings of such names as Barton End (91), Priding (ii, 176), Oldend (ii, 203), Downend (iii, 99), Grovesend (iii, 15, 112), Walning (iii, 122), Pilning (iii, 139), Hallen (iii, 133), Rednend (iii, 139), Woodend (iii, 171), etc.Lechlade Down falls to river-level at the west end of Lechlade town.