Hewenstreet Fm
Early-attested site in the Parish of Hamsey
Historical Forms
- Hewnestrete 1405 IpmR
- Heynstrete 1484 SAC17
- Great Hewenstreats al. Hewarstreats 1624 SRS14,25
Etymology
Hewenstreet Fm is Hewnestrete 1405 IpmR, Heynstrete 1484 SAC 17, Great Hewenstreats al. Hewarstreats 1624 SRS 14, 25.There can be little doubt that the first element in this name is OE hīwan , 'members of a family, household, or monastic community,' ME hewen , commonly used of 'servants,' cf. Hewingbear (So), Heweneber 1242 Ass, 1303 FF, 1327 SR, 1335 Ch. Miss Holgate suggests that the name records the fact that the street was maintained by the local tenants, perhaps from the time when they were servi . 'The whapple way leading from Barcombe through Hewenstrete towards the restinge oak ought to be mended by the terre-tenants on both sides but in 1618 it is presented that Philipp Bennett onely is to repaire the same,' cf. SRS 34, 136.