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.

Barstable Hundred

Hundred in the County of Essex

Historical Forms

  • Beardestap(e)le 1085–9 WDB 1087 WestmA
  • Berdestapla 1086 DB 1152–62 Colch
  • Berdestapl(e) 1179–85 P 1276 FF
  • Berdestapel(l) 1219 Fees 1255 Ass
  • Bredestapil 1321 Pat
  • Berestaple 1361 Cl
  • Bardestapla, Bardestaple 1141–52 Ch 1383 Colch 1154–61 P 1193 QW 1285
  • Berdested 1254 Ass
  • Barstable 1289 Ipm 1594 N
  • Barnstable 1539 LP

Etymology

The meeting-place of the hundred was at Barstable infra 141.In 1243 FF we have mention of 'the two Hundreds and a half of Berdestapel .' The old hall was near the junction of the boundaries of the parishes of Laindon, Corringham, Vange, and Basildon, the highest land in the parish. It is probably this spot that is called (Upper )motehill in the Laindon Court Rolls in 1573. v. (ge)mot.