Clench
Early-attested site in the Parish of Milton Lilborne
Historical Forms
- Clenchia
- Clenche 1289 Ass 1314 FF
- Cleynche 1330 Ipm 1371 Pat 1372 IpmR
- Clynche 1572,1596 FF
- atte Clenche 1257 For
- la Clenche 1275 RH
- Clenche 1327 Banco
Etymology
Clench is Clenchia n.d. AD i, Clenche 1289Ass , 1314FF , Cleynche 1330 Ipm, 1371 Pat, 1372 IpmR, Clynche 1572, 1596FF and gave name to Roger Godale atte Clenche (1257For ), John de la Clenche (1275 RH) and Thomas de Clenche (1327 Banco). Clench was no doubt originally a hill-name, as suggested by Ekwall (DEPN), related to the dialect clench , clunch , 'lump, mass.' The farm itself lies in a depression but is at the foot of a big rounded hill which lies on its eastern side. Cf. Clinghill supra 254, Clynchehill (1570 PembSurv) in Ramsbury.