Shelsley Beauchamp
Major Settlement in the Parish of Shelsley Beauchamp
Historical Forms
- Celdeslai 1086 DB
- Sceldeslega c.1150 Surv
- Scheldeleya 1175 P
- Seldeslei, Seldesley 1194 1275 SR
- Sheldeslegh Beauchampe 1255 Ass
- Schellysley Becham 1535 VE
Etymology
For further forms, v. Shelsley Walsh infra 78. This name must be considered with the unidentified sceldesheafod (KCD 724, an 11th cent. original charter) in Wa, sceldesford (BCS 380, a 9th cent. original charter) in Kent and probably with the two examples of S (c )heldesput in Bk, one of which now appears as Shelspit (PN Bk 57). All alike point to a pers. name Sc (i )eld in OE. This is the same as Scyld , who stands at the head of the Danish line in Beowulf and who appears in William of Malmesbury as Sceldius and in the West Saxon genealogies as Sceldwa .In the form Scyld his name is found in scyldestreow (BCS 917) in Wiltshire. The name must therefore be interpreted as 'Sceld's clearing,' v. leah .
Professor Zachrisson would prefer in all these names to find a lost OE sceald or (with i -mutation) sc (i )eld , a term for a shallow stream, cf. sceald as an adj. in EPN, ZONF, ii. 137 ff. The Severn itself divides Shelsley Beauchamp from Shelsley Walsh but there is a small tributary of the Severn at Shelsley Beauchamp.
Shelsley Beauchamp, also known as Great Shelsley, was already in the possession of the Beauchamps in the 12th cent. (VCH iv. 332). Shelsley Kings , a hamlet in the parish, has always formed part of the royal manor of Martley.