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.

Redstone Rock

Early-attested site in the Parish of Astley

Historical Forms

  • Reddestan 1181,1184 P
  • Radestan c.1200 Layamon 1221 1260 Pat
  • Radeston 1275 SR 1277 WoCh 1331 StSwith
  • Redstone 1658 FF

Etymology

The name of a red sandstone cliff high above the Severn.There was a hermitage here. Simon the 'clerk' of Redstone is mentioned in 1181 and Layamon tells us that he dwelt at Areley Kings close by Redstone. Three miles higher upstream there was another hermitage at Black stone (infra 248).