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.

Borough Fen

Major Settlement in the Parish of Borough Fen

Historical Forms

  • Burgfen 1307 Pytchley
  • Burghfen 1331 Ramsey 1380 Compotus 14th PeterbA c.1400 Rental
  • Boroughe Fenne 1557 FF
  • Peterborowe Fen 1614 Recov
  • Burrough Great Fenn 1683 ib
  • Boro' Fen, High Boro' Fen, Peterboro' Great Fen 1718 DKRxl

Etymology

Borough or Peterborough Fen was an extraparochial district comprising the area of fenland to the north of Peterborough lying within Northamptonshire. In 1822 the parish of Newborough (infra 239) was formed from it, the remainder of the area being consequently known as Oldborough , as in Greenwood's map and the earliest editions of the 1″ O.S.

Places in the same Parish