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.

Delves Ho

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ringmer

Historical Forms

  • Northdelve 1340 Ct
  • Delves 1609 SRS20,369

Etymology

Delves Ho (6″) is Northdelve 1340Ct , Delves 1609 SRS 20, 369.This is OE  (ge)delf, 'digging, quarry.' There is no quarry here, but just by here in the 'Potter's Field,' medieval pottery kilns were found in 1894 (SAC 45, 128) and the reference may be to the place where the clay was dug out for the pots.