Elsewhere I have given variations of the places we now know as
Edenbridge, Cuxton, Shepherdswell, Bethersden, Eastry, Throwley, etc.
One might add the cases of Freondesbyry (Saxon), Frandesberie
(Domesday), Frenesbery, and Frendesbury, for our Frindsbury; of
Estbarbrenge, Barmyage, Barmling, Barmelinge, and Berblinge, for our
Barming; Æpledure (Saxon), Apeldres (Domesday), Apoldre (1381), Apeltre,
Appledrau, and Appuldre, for our Appledore; of Pœdlewrtha (Saxon),
Pellesorde (Domesday), and Pallesford, for our three Paddlesworths;
Hertlepeshille (temp. Edw. II.), Herclepe, Hertelepe, and Harclypp
(1534), for our Hartlip; and Ok’olte (_i.e._, Oak Wood), Ocholte,
Sud-Acholt, Scottesocholt, and Nokeholde, for our Knockholt. The
etymological advantage of going back is seen in the case of Ringwould,
which becomes more intelligible when down to the time of Henry 3rd it
was known as Ridelinwalde or Rydelynewelde (_i.e._, the settlement of
the clan of Ryddeling by the wood), whereas not till 1476 do I find
Ringeweld, and Ringewold in 1502.
Ecclesiastical Place-Names.
There are not so many as one would expect considering the importance and
power and the possessions of the Church in Kent. Taking some as they
occur to me, there are All Hallows, in Sheppey, so named from the
dedication of its church to All Saints’. The Latin Sanctus and the
Teutonic Helige are the same in meaning. So we have, too, in Lower
Halstow the Saxon helige stow—the holy place. In a list of Jack Cade’s
Kentish followers, in 1450, the parish of Omi Scor is mentioned, which
puzzled me for a moment until I saw it was a contraction for Omnium
Sanctorum, All Saints’.
The two Minsters, one in Thanet and one in Sheppey, both of Saxon
foundation, are the Latin Monasterium, found later as Moynstre and then
as Menstre. Monkton, earlier Moncstun and Monkynton, marks a manor given
A.D. 961 by Queen Eadgiva to the monks of the community of Holy Trinity,
which afterwards became the greater Christ Church, Canterbury. There are
also, for the same reasons, Monks Horton and Monks Hill, by Herne Hill,
in Blean. Bishopsbourne, earlier Bishopstone, and Bishopsdenne, denotes
an episcopal manor. The old nucleus of Lydd was Bishopswic, and in
Domesday Boughton Malherbe appears as Boltone Archiepiscopi. Preston,
near Wingham (there is another by Aylesford, and a third near Faversham)
is Priest’s Town, and denotes a place where there was a small college of
clergy. That near Wingham is recorded in Domesday as Prestetune, and in
a fine of Edward II. we have: “Preston next Wengham and Wykham
Brewouse.” It belonged to S. Augustine’s Abbey at Canterbury. S.
Nicholas at Wade is named from the dedication of the ancient church. At
Wade represents the Latin Ad Vadum, at the ford, over the Wantsum, into
Thanet, near the existing-bridge at Sarre.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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