Bussack Barn
Early-attested site in the Parish of Barrow
Historical Forms
- Bursyke c1295 Deed
- Burghsyk' 1362 ib
- Borowsikegate 1294 ib
Etymology
BUSSACK BARN (2½″), cf. Bushock Furlong 1652Terrier , Bussock Furlong 1767ib . At first sight, this appears to be an OE *buscuc 'a place overgrown with bushes' as in Bussock, Brk 277 (v. busc , -uc ). But the earlier local forms Bursyke c1295Deed , Burghsyk '1362ib , Borowsikegate 1294ib may belong here. Bussack Barn was almost a mile to the east of the village and less than a mile, from the Roman road, Sewstern Lane, further to the east. A fortified site related to this important routeway into Rutland and to the ancient northern frontier that appears to have run south of Market Overton, Thistleton and Stretton would be reasonable and the distance of such a burh from the village would explain the gata 'road' of the 1294 form. However, in neighbouring Teigh parish to the west of Barrow is a lost burh-stall 'site of a fortification' (cf. Burstall ' medewe in Teigh f.ns. (b)) and these early Barrow forms may relate to this. Bussack Barn has been demolished and its site is now part of Cottesmore Airfield. The 2½″ O.S. map shows a rectangular earthwork 500 yards to the south of Bussack Barn at SK 902 153, v. burh , sík , gata .