Bale
Major Settlement in the Parish of Bale
Historical Forms
- Bathele 1086 DB 1177 P 1212 Fees 1249,1311 FF 1257,1269,1286 Ass 1302to1402 FA 1303,1311,1318 Pat 1307 Ch 1307,1314,1317 Ipm 1310 DeBanco 1330 SR 1331to1477 FF 1331 Inq 1351 Cl 1535 VE
- Bale 1208 Cur 1252 Ch 1275 RH 1369 Ipm 1413 FF 1595 AD
- Betle 1254–75 Val
- Badel' 1255 P 1263 Cl 1275 RH
- Batheley 1281 Ipm 1591 AD 1610 Speed
- Bathel 1295 Pat
- Bothele 1310 DeBanco
- Bathelle 1330 Ipm
- Bathle 1428 FA
- Bathley 1695 Morden 1813 EA
Etymology
OE bæð 'bath' and lēah 'woodland clearing' in the genitival compound Baða -lēah . Bale is considered to be identical with Bathley Nt (v. Ekwall and Mills). The reason for the names may be the presence of springs for which there is evidence at least at Bathley (PN Nt 182). Ekwall suggests hot springs, but this remains a guess.