Cole Bridge
Early-attested site in the Parish of Wotton St Mary Without or Longlevens
Historical Forms
- Colrebrigg' 1287 Ass
- Colrebrugg' 1378 Works
- Culverbrigge, Colverbrigge 1330–1400 GlR 1364,1389 Works 1542 MinAcct
- Colverbridge 1557 Val92 1630 Inq
- Cowlebridge 1455 BGli
- Colbridgefeild 1598 Dep
- Coledich c.1270,c.1300,1308 GlR
Etymology
The first el. appears to be OE culfre 'dove', but the later forms have been influenced by a local Coledich c. 1270, c. 1300, 1308 GlR, 'ditch of cold water' (v. cōl , dīc ); the bridge carries the Gloucester- Cheltenham road over Wotton Brook, which may once have been called Coledich . The problems, however, may be those involved in the origin of ModE culvert 'culvert' (from 1773) and its suggested but dubious relationship with Fr couloir 'channel, gutter' (v. NED s.v. culvert ). Topographically this would be more appropriate; 'culvert bridge', v. bryeg .