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.

Went Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kirk Smeaton

Historical Forms

  • pontem de Wente 1190 YCh1641
  • ponte(m) de Wenet 1190–1210 YCh 1194–1211 Kirkst
  • Wentbrig(g), Wentbryg 1302 Ebor 1335,1375 FF 1638 SessnR
  • Wentbridge 1545 TestLds 1597 SessnR 1616 PRDr
  • Wentebrigg(e) 1307,1316 WCR 1327 Baild 1368 MinAcct

Etymology

Went Bridge, pontem de Wente 1190 YCh 1641, ponte (m ) de Wenet 1190–1210 YCh 1642, 1194–1211 Kirkst, Wentbrig (g ), Wentbryg 1302 Ebor, 1335, 1375 FFet freq to 1638 SessnR, Wentbridge 1545 TestLds, 1597 SessnR, 1616 PRDr, Wentebrigg (e )1307, 1316 WCR, 1327 Baild (p), 1368MinAcct . 'Bridge across the Went', v. R. Went (RNs.), brycg ; it carried the Roman road from Doncaster to Tadcaster. It is not always easy to distinguish early references for the various Went Bridges (in Snaith 28supra , in Walden Stubbs 53, and in Purston Jaglin 88infra ), but this was the principal one.