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.

Aldreth Causeway

Early-attested site in the Parish of Haddenham

Historical Forms

  • calceta de Alreheda 1178 ChronRams 17th
  • la chaucee de Alderhethe 1339 Rams
  • Elderyth cawse 1540 MinAcct

Etymology

Aldreth Causeway is calceta de Alreheda 1178 (17th) ChronRams, la chaucee de Alderhethe 1339 Rams, Elderyth cawse 1540MinAcct , via Etheldredse quæ vulgo vocatur S. Audreyes causeye CHuAS i, 8, 51. The building of the causeway is traditionally assigned to William the Conqueror (but cf. H. C. Darby, Medieval Fenland 110), and for centuries it was the chief entrance from the Cambridge district. When the name had developed to Audrey it was quite naturally associated with St Audrey or St Etheldreda , the foundress of the monastery at Ely.