Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

In the 17th century Aylsham fell within four manors of which Bolwick was the smallest. The others were Aylsham Lancaster (held by the crown from 1156 until Edward III granted it to his son John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster), Aylsham Wood (held by the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds until Henry VIII granted it to Edward Wood in 1535) and Aylsham Vicarage (which first belonged to Battle Abbey but was granted to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury by Henry VIII). A survey of these manors, which extended into several townships, is beyond the scope here. For a more detailed treatment, v. Joan Turville-Petre “The Tofts of Aylsham Manors” in Norfolk Archaeology (1995) 42: 148–159, which discusses an extended use of the Scand  word toft as a term for land-units assigned to named tenants. She has found no “tofts” mentioned in the court books for Bolwick.