Rawhaw Wood
Early-attested site in the Parish of Wilbarston
Historical Forms
- Rahage, Rohawe, Rohawedick 1143 Dugdv434–5 1323
- Rohal' 1198 P
- Rohawe c.1220 For
- Rahaige 1235 Ch
- Rohaye t.Ed1 PeterbB
- Rawhawe, Rawhawfelde 1547 Pat
Etymology
Rawhaw Wood (6″) is Rahage , Rohawe , Rohawedick 1143 (1323) Dugd v434–5, Rohal '1198 P, Rohawe c. 1220For , Rahaige 1235 Ch, Rohaye t. Ed 1PeterbB , Rawhawe , Rawhawfelde 1547 Pat.'Roe enclosure' or 'enclosed wood,' v. ra , haga or hagi . Cf. Roehoe Wood (Nt), Rahage 1156 Holtzman, Pabsturkunden , 1185 P. The charter of 1143 says with reference to Rawhaw 'et sciendum quod monachi boriales scripserunt in cartis nostris Rahage pro Rohawe.' It is difficult to say how far this difference between northern and local usage depended purely on a difference of dialect, OE long a being preserved in Northern English, or how far it may represent a Midland form reflecting Scandinavian influence, and going back to ON rá -hagi .