Chislebury Camp
Early-attested site in the Parish of Fovant
Historical Forms
- Chiselbury 1721 WMxi
- cester slæd byrg 901 BCS588 13th
- ceaster blæd byrig 994 KCD687 13th
Etymology
Chislebury Camp is Chiselbury 1721 WM xi and is referred to as cester slæd byrg 901 (13th) BCS 588, ceaster blæd byrig 994 (13th) KCD 687. The two early forms (checked from the MS) are of equal authority. If the second is the more correct then we have a parallel in Chesterblade (So), Cesterbled 1065, Chestreblad 1259 Wells, a name which is very difficult of explanation (cf. DEPN s. n .). From the point of view of form and sense alike it is slightly easier to derive the name from cesterslædbyrg , the slæd being perhaps the shallow depression running east and west immediately south of the burh or camp.