Mock Bridge
Early-attested site in the Parish of Henfield
Historical Forms
- Mokebrugge 1301 Sele
- Mokebridge 1638 SAC60,38
- Mokebrugge 1296 SR
- Mokeford 1327 SR
- Mokeford 1332 SR
Etymology
Mock Bridge (6″) [moukbridʒ] is Mokebrugge in 1301 (Sele ), Mokebridge in 1638 (SAC 60, 38) and gave name to the family of Ad' de Mokebrugge (1296 SR). There would seem also to have been a Mokeford in Henfield (1373 SRS 31, 124) and we have mention of Radulphus Mokeford (1327 SR) and Henry Mokeford (1332 SR) in the same parish. It is possible that the first element here is mocke or mok used of a donkey in the 16th cent., but the history of that word and its relation to the slang moke is obscure (v. NED .s. v ). Alternatively it may be an OE pers. name Mocca for Mōdica , a possible formation.