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.

Rise Fm and Barn

Early-attested site in the Parish of Southover

Historical Forms

  • Southrye 1363 AD2900
  • the South Rye 1567 SRS3,60
  • la Reye 1237 Lewes100
  • atte Rye 1344 Pat
  • Northeye 1279 Ass

Etymology

These are situated on two slight elevations in the marshes, called the Upper and Lower Rise. According to Horsfield (Hist , of Lewes i. 298) they were called 'The Hither and the Further Rhies.' The 'Further Rhie' is called Southrye in 1363 (AD 2900), the South Rye in 1567 (SRS 3, 60). On one of them lived Gilbert de la Reye in 1237 (Lewes 100) and Wm atte Rye (1344 Pat). As they are 'islands' in the marsh, it is clear that we have OE  eg with affixed r as in The Rye (PN Bk 205). The earlier form appears to be preserved in the insula juxta Lewes voc. Southeye (9 d) and in the Northeye of 1279 (Ass ).Rise is for earlier R (h )ies . Similarly and in similar country we have in Westham (TA )Great Rise , earlier 'the Great Rhyes ,' pieces of land higher than the adjoining marsh.

Places in the same Parish