Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Be(c)k(e)dale(ffeld) 1362 SewersC

• Be(c)k(e)dalebank 1377 Imb

• Beg(ge)dale 1380–1607 1597 WisbechMap

• Begedalesfelde 1380 Sewers

• Bekedale(feld) 1319 Extent 1322 ElyCh 1330–54

• Begdalefylde 1493 Queens'

• Bekedale 1314 Ct

• Bekedale 1327 SR ib

Etymology

Begdale is Be (c )k (e )dale (ffeld )1362SewersC , Be (c )k (e )dalebank 1377 Imb, Beg (ge )dale 1380–1607 ib., 1597Wisbech Map , Begedalesfelde 1380Sewers . Adjoining this is Begdale Fm infra 297. In Swaffham Prior, too, we have Bekedale (feld )1319Extent , 1322ElyCh , 1330–54Ct , Begdalefylde 1493Queens '. In neither parish is there anything which can be called a dale and both names are perhaps manorial, deriving from the same family, that of John de Bekedale 1314Ct (Elm and Wisbech), 1341 NI (Swaffham Prior) and Margaret de Bekedale 1327 SR (ib.).