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.

Boston Spa

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bramham

Historical Forms

  • Bostongate 1799 Weth
  • Boston 1822 Langd
  • Thorp Spaw 1771 M

Etymology

The spa was a well-known mineral spring discovered in 1744 by John Shires, an inhabitant of Thorp Arch on the opposite bank of the R. Wharfe (244infra ). The village of Boston was begun in 1753 (cf. Langd 238). For spa , cf. Harrogate v, 108infra .