Guyhirn
Early-attested site in the Parish of Wisbech St Mary
Historical Forms
- le Gyerne 1275 ElyF
- (le) Gy(e)herne, Gy(e)hyrne, Gy(e)hirne 1513 ib
- Cuherne 1278 ElyM
- (le) Gehirn' 1438 Sewers
- Geyherne ib.
- Geyhirne 1438 Imb
- Guy(e)hyrne, Guy(e)herne, Guy(e)hirne, Guy(e)hurne, Guy(e)horne 1438 Imb 1579 Depositions
- Guy(e)hearon ib.
- Gyhorn 1819 Carter
Etymology
This is a difficult name, perhaps a hybrid, a combination of OFr guie , 'guide' (v. NED s. vv . guy , guide ) and OE hyrne, 'angle, corner.'Guyhirn must always have been a critical point in the drainage of this part of the fens. The tide flowing up the Wisbech river came as far as this. Ring's End (infra 296) is quite close. It was here that Bishop Moreton erected his Tower House for the effective supervision of his new drain, and long before the construction of Moreton's Leam, the meeting here of the fresh waters and the tides probably led to the construction of works for the safe guidance of their flow at this corner.