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.

Sowerby Bridge

Major Settlement in the Parish of Halifax

Historical Forms

  • Sour(e)bybrig(g)(e), Sour(e)by Brygge 1424 Stansf 1462,1492 MinAcct 1541 FGr
  • Sourbridge 1518 Testv
  • Sorebie bridge 1543 ib
  • Sowerby(e)brigge 1578 WillY 1649 SbCA
  • Sowerby bridge 1642 Watson

Etymology

The modern industrial town (like Hebden Bridge 188infra ) takes its name from a bridge across the R. Calder, v. Sowerby 144infra , brycg . A bridge certainly existed in 1315, when the township of Sourby was fined 13s. 4d. for not repairing it. It may have replaced a ford called 'Sowerby ford' 1300 Tayl xlvi.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name