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.

Hare Street

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ardeley

Historical Forms

  • Harestrete 1498 StPauls
  • Harestreete 1568 Wills

Etymology

Hare Street is Harestrete 1498StPauls , Harestreete 1568 Wills.This is the OE  here -stræt , 'army street or way,' cf. Hare Street infra 179. The reference here is to the ancient Stane Street which enters the county by Bishop's Stortford and then runs west to Braughing and north-west to Baldock. It forms the boundary between Ardeley and Cottered parishes for some miles, though now only a track.