Bellamy's Bridge
Early-attested site in the Parish of Wisbech St Mary
Historical Forms
- Bel(l)ymyl(le)brigge, Bel(l)ymilbrigge, Bel(l)ymilbrygge 1438 Sewers 1476–1519
- Belamybrigge 1401 ib
Etymology
Bellamy's Bridge is Bel (l )ymyl (le )brigge , Bel (l )ymilbrigge , Bel (l )ymilbrygge 1438Sewers , 1476–1519Ct , Belamybrigge 1401 ib. Cf. also Belymeldyke 1437 ib., Bellymelle 1515 ib., Bellymylnebroke 1549 ib. The first part of the name is clearly descriptive of some feature of the mill which stood by the bridge and stream here. With the forms that we have it is impossible to say whether bel (l )y is to be associated with the common word bellow (s ) (OE bælg , bel (i )g ) or with belly (ME baly , bely ).