Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Patleiagate 1175 Font 1176 YDi

• Pathlay, Pathle 1202 Cur

• Pathlaybrig(e), Pathlaybrigg(e) 1405 Baild 1535 VE 1509 Rent

• Pathlaybrigg als. Pathlobrigg 1598 FF

• Patheleybrigg(e) 1320 Ch 1436 Testii 1507 YDviii 1533 MinAcct

• Patheley Bridge 1536 Testvi

• Pathelabrig 1457 FountBurs

• Paithlaybrig, Paythlaybrig, -lay-, Paythlaybrigges 1474 RipAct 1521 Testv 1588 KnaresWill

• Paythlaybridges 1588 WillY

• Padlabrig 1475 WillY

• Padely Brigge 1486 RipAct

• Padley Brygges 1546 YChant

• Paytley Brygges 1503 WillY

• Paitley Bridge 1609 Ripiii 1654 WillS

• Pattelay Brigge 1518 WillY

• Patleybrig(g), Patlaybrig(g) 1521 1597 FF

• Pateley Brigges 1612 FF

• Pateley Bridge 1628 PRRip 1664 RipFab

• Patheyley Brige 1533 MinAcct

Etymology

'Forest-glade or clearing near the paths', v. pæð , lēah . The modern form (which comes from a ME  form Pātheley with -ă - lengthened in the open syllable, cf. Phonol. § 11) points to an OE  paða -lēah with the first el. in the gen.pl. The change of -th - to -t - is on the whole late, but the occasional spellings with -d - are earlier and confirm Wright's view that the common dial. pad for path is old (EDGr § 316). The paths referred to are probably now represented by the roads from Knaresborough up Nidderdale and from Ripon to Craven which intersect here near the important crossing of the R. Nidd; this was possibly a ford originally and subsequently a bridge (v. brycg , with -g in early spellings through ON influence); the earliest mention of a bridge is in 1320 Ch. v. Addenda.