English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Wassell Mill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kirdford

Historical Forms

  • Wassele 1327 SR
  • Warscele 1340 FF
  • Wasshell 1541 BailiffsAccts

Etymology

Wassell Mill (6″) gave name to John de Wassele (1327 SR) and William de Warscele (1340 FF). It is called Wasshell in 1541 (Bailiffs Accts ). The name may be a compound of OE  wer and sele , 'building by the weir.' The stream here has been dammed to make a mill pool.