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.

Lee Fair Green

Early-attested site in the Parish of East and West Ardsley

Etymology

Lee Fair Green, also called Lee Gap (cf. Gap Ho infra ), Wodekirkelegh 1358WCR 2, Lee Croft 1708WYEnr 9, Lee Green 1771 M, Lee Fair 1817 M, Lee Fair or Green 1822 Langd. v. Woodkirk infra , lēah , feire , grēne 2 . A fair at Woodkirk was granted by Henry 1 and confirmed by Stephen to be held on the Feast of the Assumption and on the Nativity (YCh 1442); in 1306 a servant of Henry de Swynlington was to be arrested for stealing a hide at 'Wodekirk fair'.The famous Lee Fairs or Lee Gap Fairs are held here on 24 August and 17 September.