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.

  1. Owlscastle (Early-attested site, Horsham, Sussex)

    Owlscastle may have been one of the hiding places of the owlers who engaged in Surrey and Kent in the trade of smuggling wool or sheep out of England (v. SAC 24, 141 and

  2. Crown Well Bridge (Other OS name, Manton, Rutland)

    ad pontem sub Manetun' 1218 For; pontis de Veynge 1409 PRep

    is probably from OE  crumb-wella ' crooked stream ' with reference to the twisting of R . Chater along this stretch , cf. the Croome in f. ns . ( b ) infra .

  3. Sheepdyke Lane (Other OS name, Greetham, Rutland)

    , alluding to a sheep - dip , cf. Washdyke Close or Sheepdyke Close in neighbouring Exton f. ns . ( b ) , v. scēap , dík

  4. Sinks Beck (Other OS name, Holme East Waver, Cumberland)

    Sinkes yeate 1635 Ct

    ( 6 ″ ) . Cf. Sinkes yeate 1635Ct . Sink is probably used here in the sense of ' drain, sewer , ' v. NED s. v. sink sb . , 1 b

  5. the Rookery (Other OS name, Little Casterton, Rutland)

    , v. Rochaue in Lt . Casterton f. ns . ( b ) infra

  6. Walker's Lodge (Other OS name, Greetham, Rutland)

    , George Walker and family are cited in 1665HT , cf. Walkers Farm in f. ns . ( b ) infra