Chalderbeach Farm
Early-attested site in the Parish of Holme
Historical Forms
- Scælfremære, Scelfremære a.1022 KCD733 c.1200
- Chelfremerebeche 1146 Cottvii.3
- Chelfrebecche, Cheluremerebeche, Chelwremere, Chelwremare c.1150 Rams c.1350
- Scelremere, Salderemere Breche, Saldermere 1279 RH
Etymology
This mere lay to the south of Whittlesey Mere, and Chalderbeach Farm must have been on its eastern shore. Its name was clearly scealfra-mere , i.e. 'mere of the diver-birds.' Later the f was lost between the l and r in the consonant group and was replaced by the epenthetic d which so commonly develops in ME between l and r . Confusion of initial sch and ch is fairly common and would in this case be assisted by the influence of the common ME chaluer , cheluer , gen. pl. of 'calf.' The beach is clearly the same element that is found in Wisbech, Landbeach and Waterbeach (C) and refers to the position of the farm on the edge of the mere. The word may be the same as OE bæc , bece , 'stream,' with transference of sense from the stream to its bank, but this is uncertain (v. Weekley, Etymological Dictionary , s.v.). v. Addenda.