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.

BrickMere

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ramsey

Historical Forms

  • Birchemere 1146 Cottvii.3 c.1150 Rams c.1350 RH 1279
  • Birkemare 1248–57 BM
  • Bereh(e)mere 1217–72 Rams c.1350 RH 1279
  • Briehmerpoles c.1350 Rams
  • Brikmere 1572 BM 1610 Speed

Etymology

OE  beorc - or beorca-mere , 'mere of the birch-trees,' with late metathesis of the r . v. beorc . The presence at one time of birches in the neighbourhood is confirmed by the reference in Dugdale, History of Embanking (2nd ed.) 357, to Byrchholt by Byrchmere (cf. Bricheholt in Higney in Ramsey Cartulary).