Sparcell's Fm
Early-attested site in the Parish of Lydiard Millicent
Historical Forms
- Speresholt 1263 For
- boscum de Speresholt 1281 Ass
- Speresholte t.Ed2 For
- Spersholte t.Ed3 ib
- Spressels 1733 WMxl
- Spar swell 1744 Map
Etymology
It is difficult not to connect the first element in this name of threefold occurrence with the common word spere , 'spear,' as does Ekwall (DEPN s. n. Sparsholt) and then to interpret the name as 'wood from which spear-shafts are taken.' The genitive singular in the first element of a compound with such a sense is strange, but cf. Haxmore infra 38.