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.

Terrible Down

Early-attested site in the Parish of Laughton

Historical Forms

  • Turbyldoune t.Hy5–6 Add
  • Torbildoune 1477 BM
  • Tarbyldoune 1543 Ct
  • Terbill Downe 1563 SAC21,199
  • Tyrryble doune 1573 Ct
  • Tarble Down 1659 Ct
  • atte Tordehelle 1296 SR

Etymology

Terrible Down is Turbyldoune t. Hy 5–6Add , Torbildoune 1477 BM, Tarbyldoune 1543Ct , Terbill Downe 1563 SAC 21, 199, Tyrryble doune 1573Ct , Tarble Down 1659Ct and is probably to be associated with Robert atte Tordehelle (1296 SR), i.e. 'at the dung hill,' cf. Terwick supra 42. Turdhill , Tordhill was probably altered to Turbyll , Torbyll in order to hide its unpleasant associations.