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.

Beald Drove

Other OS name in the Parish of Ely St Mary and Ely Trinity

Historical Forms

  • Belyslanes(ende) 1280 Rental
  • viam de Bele 13th ElyE
  • Belewey 1512 ElyB
  • Beald Drove c.1825 O.S.

Etymology

( 6 ″ ) is Belyslanes (ende )1280Rental ,viam de Bele 13thElyE , Belewey 1512ElyB , Beald Drove c. 1825 O.S. Cf. also Belilake 1251ElyCouch , 1277Ely , (piscaria ) Belwere 13thHosp , Beleslond 1436Ct , Belehedge 1582Ct . This is the same word as Beel 1276 RH ( WRY ) which Ekwall (Studies , 159 ff.) finds in such names as Belaugh and Bylaugh (Nf) , Beltoft (L) , Belton (Lei) , etc . Though not evidenced as a common noun in OE , it is clearly so used here . Ekwall suggests that we may have a Germanic cognate in Beelen in Munster ( Belaun c. 1030 , Belon c. 1050 , dat . pl . Belen 1134 , Beele 1188 ) and Beelen in Gelderland ( Belen 1103 , Bele 1188 ) . Its meaning is unknown , but Ekwall suggests a connexion with ON  bil , Dan  bil , bæl , ' point of time , ' literally ' interval, interspace , ' with a possible meaning in place - names of ' a glade in a forest ' or ' a piece ofdry land in fenny country . ' The latter is apt here , where we have it associated with Dedhil and Middelhoue , and in Beild Drove infra with le Knol and -houe . In both we have reference to a weg . The road to Beald Fm follows a peculiarly winding course through the fen , clearly keeping to what was once the only passable route , v. also Beale Close infra 370 , Beild Drove and Pymore infra .