Chalkhill Ho
Early-attested site in the Parish of Kingsbury
Historical Forms
- (æt) Cealchylle 1044–66 KCD843
- Chalchell' 1199 Cur
- Chalehull (sic) 1236 FF
- Chalkhulle 1240 1383 SR
- Chalkehull' 1294 Ass
- Chalkhill 1441 ADiv
- Chalkecroft 1557 Pat
- Chalkfeld 1552 Pat
- Chalkefeld 1557 ib
- Chawkehill 1539 Rental
Etymology
Chalkhill Ho is (æt ) Cealchylle 1044–66 KCD 843, Chalchell '1199 Cur (p), Chalehull (sic)1236 FF, Chalkhulle 1240 ib., 1383SR , Chalkehull '1294Ass , Chalkhill 1441 AD iv. The OE form of this name shows that the first element must be cealc , commonly rendered 'chalk, limestone.' Elsewhere in the county we find Chalkecroft 1557 Pat (Hendon), 1441Ct (Enfield), Chalkfeld 1552 Pat (Edgware), Chalkefeld 1557 ib. (Isleworth), Chawkehill 1539Rental (St Pancras). Neither chalk nor limestone is to be found at any of these places. For a similar difficulty elsewhere, cf. Caulke Cliff (PN Nt 129). Potter (12) says “The Saxons named it so probably because the hard blue clay on the hillside seemed to have an appearance like chalk.”