Humbrel's Farm
Early-attested site in the Parish of Warboys
Historical Forms
- Humberdale 1251 Rams c.1350 For 1255 For 1286 Ct 1301 Rams 1346 c.1350
- Humerdalegate 1286 Ass
Etymology
Goldpit Runnel comes down from Humbrel's Farm and it is difficult not to think that the slæd and the dale (v. dæl ) were parts of one and the same valley, down which a small river Humber ran, now known as Goldpit Runnel. Humbre is a common river-name in OE. In addition to the well-known Humber in Yorkshire we have a Humber (perhaps Lawern Brook, Wo) in BCS 480, a Humbracumb (BCS 1183) in Berkshire and two different examples of Humbra in Oxfordshire (KCD 714, 1296), as well as modern Humber Brooks, one a feeder of the Lugg (He) and the other in Admington (Gl), a feeder of the Stour (Stevenson MSS). Cf. Doverdale (Wo) for a compound name of this type, and also a torrens de Humberdale in Milton Ernest (Bd), 1279 RH. It is clear that the name should really be Humbrel rather than Humbrel's Farm.