Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bastenhale 1246 Thorney 1285–1390 14th ElyF

• Bastenfeld 1397 Ct

• Bastenweie 1446 Thorney

• Bastenalemoore 1403 SewersA

• Bastenhalyee 1446 Ct

• Bastonhale c.1280 ElyF

• Bastone 1393 Ct

• Bastonefelde 1396 ib

• Bastingeshalewey c.1280 ElyF

• Bas(s)nall Feild, Bassinally Feild 1603 Survey

• Bassenhall Moore 1637 BedL

• Bassinghally 1712 Fenlandiv

• Bassinghally Moor c.1840 TA

• Bastenalemoore 1403 SewersA

• Bassenhall Moore 1637 BedL

Etymology

This name, like Barston supra 135, earlier Baston , and Bastwick and Woodbastwick (Nf) (cf. DEPN), probably contains OE  bæst used either of the lime-tree itself or of bast , the bark of the lime-tree. The first element is either basten , hence 'nook grown over with lime-trees' (v. healh ) or more probably (cf. Barston supra 135) baston , 'nook by lime-tree farm', v. tūn . The form Bassinally may be a reduction of Bastenhalyee , i.e. ēa or stream by Bastenhale or of Bastenhaleweie , i.e. road by Bastenhale . Basinghall Fm (6″) is derived from such a form as Bastingeshale . Bassnimoor Fm derives from Bastenalemoore 1403SewersA , Bassenhall Moore 1637 BedL.