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.

Biddesden Ho

Early-attested site in the Parish of Chute and Chute Forest

Historical Forms

  • Bedesdene 901 BCS597 15th DB 1086
  • Beddesden 1272 FF
  • Budesden(e) 1257 For 1289 Ass
  • Budisden(e) 1286 Ch
  • Buddesden(e) 1297 Pat 1332 SR 1345 Pat 1428 FA 1535 VE
  • Biddeston 1738 Sadler

Etymology

Biddesden lies in a valley which may have been named byd from OE  byd , 'tub, vessel,' noted under Bydemill Brook supra 4.To this OE  denu, 'valley,' may have been added later when the element was no longer understood.