Bishopstrow
Major Settlement in the Parish of Bishopstrow
Historical Forms
- Biscopestreu 1086 DB
- Bissopestreu 1121 AC
- Bissopestre 1195 P 1201 Cur 1206 Abbr
- Bissupestru 1196 Cur 1198 Abbr
- Bisshopestre 1236 Ch
- Bisshopestrewe 1257 For
- Byscoppestrewe 1270 Ch
- Biss(c)hoppestrowe 1300 Ipm 1316 FA
- Biss(c)hoppestrue 1331 Pat
Etymology
'The bishop's tree,' v. treow . This is probably the place which William of Malmesbury (WMP 384–5) calls Biscepes truue , associating with it a legend that St Aldhelm once preached there and that when he placed his ashen pastoral staff in the ground it miraculously multiplied into numerous ash-trees so that the vill was henceforward known as ad Episcopi arbores , i.e. at Bishop's trees. The church is dedicated to St Aldhelm.