Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

, 1811 OS , cf. the way or passage to Owre Key 1698 Hutch3 , Key Fd 1844TA , v. Owersupra , passage ' river-crossing, ferry ' , key ' quay ' , and cf. WytchPassage infra ; Ower Passage lies c. 700 yds N of Ower Fm on Poole Harbour ; according to Hutch 3 1 538 ' Ower seems to have been formerly the chief port in the Isle of Purbeck , and it was the principal , if not the only , quay for the exportation of stone and marble ' , the volume of this traffic being suggested by ' the remains of deep tracks and roads leading across the heath from Ower towards the town of Corfe ' , cf. Peppercorn Lane infra .