Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Spæcleahtun 816 BCS356 11th

• Speacleahtun 816 BCS357 11th

• æt Speclea 967 BCS1204 18th DB 1086

• æt Spæclea 967 BCS1205 11th

• Swæchæme gemære (sic) 978–92 KCD683 11th

• Spechlega, Spechleie, Spechelegh c.1086 EveA&B 1190 P 1173 Bodl c.1225 FF 1246

• Spechesle(ye) 1271 Ch 1275 SR 1346 FA 1446 BM

• Spechestley 1327 SR

• Specthesleye 1329 FF

• Spechisley 1440 BM

• Specheley, Spechley, Spetchley 1561–1627 Wills

Etymology

There can be no doubt that Duignan (PN Wo 152) was right in associating this place with the proximity of Low Hill (supra 89) in Aston, which was the meeting-place of Oswaldslow Hundred on the borders of Spetchley parish, and interpreting the name as from late OE  spǣc , 'speech' and leah . It is the open space where the speeches at the Hundred-meetings were made. The names stand in much the same relation to one another as Skirmett and Fingest (PN Bk 178, 180) and Landmoth and Fingay Hill in the North Riding. Dr A. H. Smith has recently shown that these latter names are from OE  land - gemōt , 'land-meeting place,' and ON  þinghaugr , 'hill of assembly.' In the Assize Roll of 1275 appears a vill named Spechull in association with Whittington and Bredicote. These are by Spetchley and there can be little doubt that this is an alternative name for it. So also we have in RBB in the 1299 Survey, mention of a Thomas de Spechehull who held half a virgate of land in Kempsey, equally close to Spetchley.