Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (partem de) Schelde, Schell c.1180–1200 Furn

• super Skeld 1200–20,1210–26 ib

• Skeld yeat 1645,1687 PRRl

• Hye Skeld 1728 Thn

• Skelgate 1817 M

Etymology

Skeld Gate, (partem de ) Schelde , Schell c. 1180–1200 Furn, super Skeld 1200–20, 1210–26 ib, Skeld yeat 1645, 1687 PRRl, Hye Skeld 1728Thn 118, Skelgate 1817 M. Skeld Gate was the name of a gate (v. geat ) at the township boundary on a road leading from Winterburn to Hetton. From the description of Hetton as super Skeld it would appear that Skeld was the name of the hill on which Hetton stands. The name (like Skelda 41supra or a lost YN Helewaldessceld 12 Whitby) is from ON  skjǫldr 'shield' which is frequently used in Norw  p.ns. like Skjold (NG xvii, 111), Skjolde (ib xvi, 399) or Skjølland (ib xiii, 395) to denote a rounded hill shaped like a shield or a shield-boss; cf. also Sheldon Hill iv, 51supra .