Boxgrove
Major Settlement in the Parish of Boxgrove
Historical Forms
- Bosgrave 1086 DB 1280 Pat
- Bosegrave 1288,1295 Ass
- Boxgrave 1225 BM
- Boxgrove 1337 Ipm
- Boisgrave c.1270 Gerv
- Bosegroue, Bosgrave 1538 Wills
- Boxgrave al. Bosgrave 1587 Pat
- Bosgrave in DB
Etymology
'Box-grove,' v. box , graf . Difficulties have been raised on the score that groves of box-trees are unknown here (SAC 15, 86) and the alternative has been suggested that the place was originally called Graf and that the first element was added to mark that it was the 'Grove' in the Hundred of Box . It should be noted however that a name of this kind may just as well be given from the rarity of a tree as from its commonness in the neighbourhood and that as there was another Grave (v. Groves infra 76) close at hand in the parish of Oving and in the same hundred the distinction would not have served its suggested purpose. Further, the hundred itself is called Bosgrave in DB, v. supra 62 and on the ancient seal of the monastery we have (for what it is worth) the belief of the monks themselves 'dicitur ex ligno viridi Boxgravia digno .'