Holywych Fm
Early-attested site in the Parish of Hartfield
Historical Forms
- Holewyche 1229 Dugdvi.495 1320 Ch 1535 VE
- Holewyk 1291 Tax
- Hollewych, Holwych 1555 SRS20,302
Etymology
Holywych Fm is Holewyche 1229 Dugd vi. 495, 1320 Ch, 1535 VE, Holewyk 1291 Tax, Hollewych , Holwych 1555 SRS 20, 302, Hollywitch 1598 Sackville-West, Historical Notices of Withyham 22. This is very definitely in a hollow, so probably the modern form is misleading. If the first element was halig , we should expect some early forms Holi -, Holy -. The second seems to be OE wic, 'farm,' with rare palatalisation of the final element, but might also be wice , 'wych-elm,' hence, 'hollow tree' or 'tree in the hollow.'