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.

Grimes Dike

Early-attested site in the Parish of Barwick in Elmet

Historical Forms

  • Grymisdyk 1257–85 YDii
  • Grymesdich' 1292 MinAcct
  • Grimsedike 1631 PRBrw

Etymology

Grimes Dike, Grymisdyk 1257–85 YD ii, Grymesdich '1292MinAcct 26, Grimsedike 1631 PRBrw, 'a large pond…call'd Grimesdike ' 1768 LdsM. 'Embankment of Grīm', v. dīc . The first el. is either the common ON  pers.n. Grímr or OE  Grīm, probably (as in ON ) a byname of the heathen god Wōden ; the name is parallel to that of Grim's Ditch W, Grim's Dyke O, which are earthworks; v. Introd.The ditch here seems now to refer to a small stream which flows into Cock Beck, and the only earthwork is a small embankment which appears to have once dammed the stream.