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.

Sketchdoles Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Littleport

Historical Forms

  • le Scach(e)dole 1494 Rental
  • Skatchyddole 1496 ib
  • Skacched Akyrr 1528 CAPrxxxvi
  • poles called a Sketch on the Brickkiln 1800 EnclA
  • Scachbowe, Schachebowe, Skac(c)hebowe, Skatchebowe, Scatchbold 1332–1786 CCC

Etymology

Sketchdoles Fm (6″). We have no early forms for this place-name, but it has its parallel in le Scach (e )dole 1494Rental , Skatchyddole 1496 ib. in Fulbourn, and we have reference in the same document (1496) to a field with a skatche on þe est syde . So also we have Skacched Akyrr 1528 CAPr xxxvi in Ely and 2 roods 20 poles called a Sketch on the Brickkiln 1800EnclA in Guilden Morden. The same element seems to be found in fields called Scachbowe , Schachebowe , Skac (c )hebowe , Skatchebowe , Scatchbold 1332–1786CCC . The history and meaning of this element skacche is entirely obscure.