B

Babylon (Aston Ingham).

Bache.

Prof. Skeat says that Bache is the palatalized form of O.E. baec, 'a valley or a river bank'. Somewhere near Ross in 1300 (Ep. Reg.) is 'quedam vallis que vocatur Alvinebache'.

The word, alone and in composition, is very common in Herefordshire:- we have Bach (Golden Valley), Bach (Cowarne), Tump Bage and Common Bach (Dorstone), Bage Farm (Hadley), Bache Farm (Kimbolton), Bach brook (Aymestrey), Batch (Almeley), The Baches (Upton Bishop), South Batch (Upper Sapey), Evesbatch, Stansbatch, Stagbatch (Leominster), Batchcomb (Cradley), Batchfields (Bishop's Frome), Batchley (Grendon Bishop), and (if it be connected) Embages (Bromyard).

Cf. Batchcott (Salop).
Badge Court (Worcs.).

Bacho, or Batcho (Monnington Straddel).

This is possibly only a local variant of Bache. There is, however, in Montgomeryshire a brook called Bacho Brook which in the Brut (under year 1111) is Bachwy, and in Gir. Cambrensis Pennant Bacho. In Crasswall, in Ord. Map, 1831, is a place called Bachau, the product of perverse ingenuity.

Back Brook.

A trib. of the Arrow, which flows through Kington.

Backbury Hill (Mordiford).

'Burh in the valley'. The first element is O.E. baec, 'a valley', for which see under Bache above.

Bacton.

'Tun of Bacca or Becca'.
Cf. Bacton (Norf.).

Badley Wood (Whitbourne).

'Badda's lea'. In 1316 there is a Baddesleagh (belonging to Alan de Plokenet) close to Great Brampton. But I take this to be a scribe's mistake for Baddeshawe (Badsay, q.v.).

Badnage (Burghill).

*Badsay [in or near Madley].

'Badda's enclosure'.

Badsay is still a surname in the county. For the second element see Appendix -hay.

Cf. Badsey (Worc.), 'Badda's island'.
See also under Wormbridge.

Bagga-lydiate (Orcop).

Bagwy seems to be akin to Bacho (q.v.). For the second element see 'Lydiates'. Some have conjectured that it is W. Bagwn-llidiard, 'gate of strength'.

Bailey Merdy (Brilley).

The first word is W. beili, a loan-word from the N.-Fr. 'the bailey-court of a castle', then a court-yard generally, sometimes a cattleyard. Beili is often found as a pl.-n. in Wales, sometimes attached to a tumulus, as Pen y Beili Bedw, a tumulus in Cards.; Beili glas, another in Glams. The second word is W. Maerdy, 'the house of a steward', then 'a dairy house'.

Balance Farm (Titley).

Ballhurst (Bromyard).

Ballingham.

'The ham of St Budgualan'.

Ballsgate (Aymestrey).

Banstone (Pencombe).

Baregains (Ledbury).

Bargates (Leominster).

Barlands (Bosbury).

Said to derive its name from having been held by the service of 'bearing' the provisions of the lord or steward in their removes from one manor to another. Such tenants were called Bermanni.

The Barr (Eardisland).

Fr. barre, 'a bar', 'barrier'. In a Brecon Charter circ. 1150, Earl Roger of Hereford gives to the Priory 'burgagium in Brechonia et acram extra Barram'.

Barrelhill (Yatton).

Barrell (Upper, Lower, and Little, Aston Ingham).

Barrow (Cradley).

O.E. beorh, 'a hill', 'citadel', then, as prob. here, 'a barrow', 'place of burial'. There is also a farm called Barrow in Pembridge.

Barr's Court (Hereford).

In 1339 Walter de la Barre was chief Bailiff of Hereford, and John de la Barre in 1334. In 1346 Roger atte Barre de Herefordie has a suit in court. The de Barre or de la Barre family, however, seem to have held lands in Holmer and Burcot at least as early as 1259. The last member of the family died early in the 17th century.

Bartestree.

'Beorhtweald's tree'.

Cf. Oswestry (Salop).

Barton or Canons' Barton (Hereford).

O.E. Bere-tun, 'enclosure for barley'.

Cf. Berwick (on-Tweed), Barwick (Yorks.), etc., all being 'Barley-farm'.

In 1553 a Barton is mentioned with Rushock and Bradnor, i.e. near Kington.

Barton Court (Colwall).

Barton Hill (kentchurch).

Bartonsham (Hereford).

*Batley [somewhere near Kilpeck].

Bayford.

I can find no old forms; but on the analogy of Bayton (Cleobury Mortimer) and Bayworth (Abingdon) it should be 'Beaga's, or Bacga's, ford'.

Baylibrooke (Bullingham).

Baynham (Ledbury).

Found as a surname also in Herefordshire. Prob. 'homestead of Baina or Bana'.

Baynton (Upton Bishop).

Prob. 'Baina's or Bana's tun'.

Baysham (Sellack).

There is also a farm called 'Baysham' in Goodrich, which in 1693 was 'Baysham's Cott'.

Beansty (Kington).

The Bear Farm (Weobley).

Bearwood (Peinbridge).

O.E. bearo, 'a wood'. If this be the derivation Bearwood is tautological. There is a 'Barrow' within half a mile; but, without old forms, we should not be justified in suggesting 'Barrow-wood'.

Cf. Conybeare, Bere Regis.

*Becce ['in valle Stradelei'].

See Bache.

Bedw (Dorstone).

W. bedw, 'the birches', plur. of bedwen, 'a birch tree'.

Belle Orchard (a street in Ledbury).

Bellimore (Preston-on-Wye).

It would seem that Belly-moor is simply a translation into English of Bolg-ros, which is compounded from Welsh bolg-, the root of several words meaning 'a paunch', and ros, 'a moor, heath'.

Belmont (Clehonger).

No old forms, so it may be comparatively a modern name.

Cf. (10 miles to the south, in Monmouthshire) Grosmont, which is certainly as old as the 13th century.

Beltrou ['in valle Stratelie'].

Benarth (Kilpeck).

Evidently the Welsh Penarth. The first element, pen, is a common prefix meaning 'the highest part' or 'the extreme end'. Its Scotch form is Ben.

Benfield (Bredwardine).

Is it 'Bean-field', or 'Field of prayer' ?

Berkley (Lingen).

*Bernoldune.

So identified by J.H.R.; but otherwise not to be traced. 'Beornweald's tun'.

Berrington.

O.E. pyrige, a loan-word from Lat. pirum. Perton in Stoke Edith (though we have no old forms) is probably also Pyryton.

Bettws (Much Dewchurch).

Much has been written, to little purpose, as to the origin of Bettws. The opinion still holds that it is a Welsh form of the English 'bead-house'; though no one has ever explained why 'bead-houses' should be scattered all over Wales and the Border, with none in England, from whence the word came !

Bewell Street (Hereford).

*The Biblings [Goodrich].

Bickerton (Much Marcle).

Bicknor.

Clearly 'Bica's bank'. Lower down the Wye is Bigsweir, which in 1322 is Bikiswere, 'Bica's weir'. See under Doward for Bicknor entry in Lib. Lan.

Bicton Pool (Yarpole).

'Bica's vale'.

Biddleston (Llangarren).

So in 1676. For etymology see Pudleston.

Bidney (Dilwyn).

Bigglestone (Much Birch).

Possibly from O.E. pucel, 'goblin', 'sprite', for which see sub Pudleston. Or, if we had old forms, we might find it to be 'Bigweald's tun'.

Bilbo (Rowlestone).

Bilfield (Hatfield).

Billingsley (Holme Lacy).

'Billing' is one of the commonest of the so-called patronymics. We find Billingford (Norfolk), Billingham (Durham), Billingley (Yorks.), Billinghurst (Sussex) and five other places in various counties. Yet it is by no means clear that there ever was a clan 'Billing'. It is quite possibly no more than 'Billa's meadow'.

Birch (Much and Little).

O.E. byrc, 'a birch tree'.

Bircher (Yarpole).

'Birch-bank'.

Birchy field (Avenbury).

Birley.

'Meadow with the burh'.

Birtley (Lingen).

'Meadow of Brid'. Birt's Morton (Glos.) is circ. 1350 Morton Brut, from Walter le Bret who held it in 1275.

Bishopstone.

'The Bishop's tun'. The Warwickshire Bishopstone is 1016 Biscopesdun.

Bishopswood.

Evidently part of the Bishop's manor of Ross, though no old references are to be found. In 1355 there is a 'Bisshopusbrok qui cadit in ripam de Weye'; and in 1292 a 'Bissopeswere super Weye', both near Ross.

Bitterley hyde (Pencombe).

The Shrops. Bitterley is Dom. Buterlie. See under Butterley.

*Bitton [between Wigmore and New Radnor in the entry].

Prob. like Glos. Bitton (which is Dom. Betune, and 1234 Betton) 'tun of Betti' or 'of Beta' (both in Onom.).

Blackmarston (Hereford).

The Kentish Blackmanstone is held in Dom. by a person named Blacman. This also was 'Blacman's tun', until popular etymology took the matter in hand.

Blacknorle (Marstow).

Blackwardine (Stoke Prior).

Legend says Black Caer-dun, supposed to have been a British or Roman fortified town, twelve coins and some fragments of pottery having been discovered there, but no foundations of buildings ! But the word obviously means 'Blaeca's weorth' or farm.

Blaenans (Cusop).

Blaenau (Michaelchurch Eskley).

See The Blane.

Blaethwood (Little Hereford).

Possibly O.E. blithe, 'merry, pleasant'.

Blakemere (Preston-on-Wye).

'Blaeca's mere'.

There is a Blackmore in Abbeydore (which may be the 'Blakapola' of the Dore Cart. in 1232), and a Blakemore in Aston Ingham; also a Blakemor (unidentified) in Leom. Cart.

Cf. Blakeney (Glos.), Blakenham (Suff.), Bletchley (Bucks.).

The Blane (Llanveynoe).

Welsh blaen (plur. blaenau) means the top, beginning, or source of anything. Usually a prefix to the name of a place situated at the end of a valley, or at the source of a river, as Blaen-Rhondda, Blaenau Festiniog. The Blane is an Anglicized corruption of Blaen; and Blaenans must be the same, though the form is difficult to explain.

Blestacre (Ullingswick).

Blythe Fields (The Lea).

O.E. blithe, 'merry, pleasant'.

Bodcot (Dorstone).

Apparently W., 'kite's tail'.

Bodenham.

'Boda's home'. The Furches family obtained land here by marriage with the Lacies in the 12th century. Hence it is sometimes found as Bodenham Furches.

Bolling (Coughton).

Bollingham (Eardisley).

Old forms being absent, we cannot tell whether the g is in the O.E. form, or has got itself inserted later. According as we decide this it will be 'Bolla's homestead', or 'homestead of Bolla's sons'. See under Billingsley.

Bollitree (Weston-under-Penyard).

Since this is the reputed site of Ariconium, Judge Cooke says it is Welsh Bol-yr-tre, 'the bowel or centre of a town', though on the English side of the Wye, where there is only one pl.-name certainly Welsh, and that within a stone's throw of Archenfield. Others say bole is 'a place where miners melted their lead'. It is perhaps more likely to be 'the tree of Bolla' or some similar name. But we have no old forms to help us.

*Bolton [somewhere in or near Wigmore].

Bonnyventure (Leominster).

So in Ord. Map, 1831. It seems to be a name of only 18th cent. origin.

Boresford (Brampton Bryan).

Borough or Bury.

Very common throughout the country, not merely in composition, as in Overbury (Woolhope), Buryhill (Weston-under-Penyard) and Monksbury (Yarkhill), but also independently, as The Bury (in Aconbury), Bury Farm (Stoke Prior), Bury House (Wigmore), Little Bury (Eye), Bury of Hope (in Hope-under-Dinmore), Bury (Luston). In Ledbury the parish is still divided into Ledbury Borough and Ledbury Foreign. And some quite small villages or even hamlets retain the name for a few houses as distinct from the rest, e.g. Ivington has Ivington Bury; and Grafton, a tiny hamlet near Hereford, has a house called Graftonbury. A farm in Kingsland is called Lawton Bury.

Bosbury.

'Burgh of Bosa', perhaps the 'scriba regis' (i.e. of Witlaf, king of Mercia) mentioned in a charter of 833.

Boulstone or Bolstone.

There is a Bowlston Court in Kentchurch also.

The entry from the Swinfield Register suggests a connection with the Beauchamp family. The Glamorganshire 'Bolstonne', in Margam Cart. 1517, both before and after that date and still, is Bonvilston.

Boultibrooke (Willey).

The first element is prob. O.E. botl (sometimes found as bolt), 'a house'. 'House on the brook'. The W. Trenant (twice found in the county) has much the same meaning.

Bowellfield (Allensmore).

Bowley (Bodenham).

'Bola's meadow'.

Bradford [a manor of Leominster].

'The broad ford'. I have entered this as an unidentified name; but it is almost certainly Broadward in Stoke Prior. See under Broadfield.

Bradley (farm, Kentchurch).

'Broadmeadow'.

Bradlow Hill (Ledbury).

Tautology; since Bradlow='Broad Hill'. Locally it is still always Bradlow, never Bradlow Hill.

Bradnor (Kington).

'Brada's bank'. For second element see Appendix.

Brainstree Cross (Stretford).

Brakes (Leintwardine).

Brampton.

  1. Brampton (Great, Madley).
  2. Brampton (Little, a township on Radnor border).
  3. Brampton Abbotts.
  4. Brampton Brian.
  5. Brampton (Dorstone).

'Brand's tun'. Brampton Abbots is held in Dom. by the Abbot of St Peter's, Gloucester. Brampton Bryan was held from the Mortimers by a long succession of Brians of Brampton (1179-1398).

Brandon Camp (Leintwardine).

It may be, as popular etymology says, a corruption of Bravinium or Branogenium, the station on the Roman road, usually located in Leintwardine. But the other Brandons (Durham, Warwickshire, Salop) are Dom. Brandune, 'hill of Brand'. We have no old forms to help us.

Breadward (Kington).

Originally, it would seem, 'spreading ford'. Then the ending got confused with -wardine (for which see Appendix).

Bredenbury.

'Beorhtwine's or Bridwine's burgh'.

Bredwardine.

'Brid's weorth' or farm. For the second element see Appendix, -wardine.

Breinton.

Judge Cooke says Bruntune is 'a vill near a flowing stream' ! But it is better to say with Prof. Wyld 'We expect a personal name with -tun'. Brun and Bruna are common O.E. names.

*Brenchesowre [in Brinsop].

The second element is an unusual form of the -ofr or -or ending. The first element may be the pers. n. Brengyth; or it may be a variant of the Brin- or Brun- in Brinsop.

Bridge Sollers.

Why Sollers? The family of Solers or de Solariis held Sollershope and other Herefordshire lands early in the 14th century. But the Manor of Bridge is held by Roger de Clifford in 1277, and seems to have been held for centuries thereafter by Cliffords or by the Bishop.

Bridstow.

'The stow of St Bridget, Brigida, or Bride'. An Inq. p.m. of 1422 mentions a 'lordship called Bridwarne' near Eton Tregoz, which would seem to be Bridstow.

Cf. Bridestowe (Devon) and Bridgerule (Devon, old 'Lan Bridget'), and the nine Llansantfraids (or -freads, i.e. Bridgets) in Wales.

Brierley (Leominster).

'Brier-meadow'. The first element is O.E. braer, brer, 'the brier tree'.

Brighton Camp. (Michaelchurch Eskley).

Called Whitehouse Camp in Vic. Count. Hist., and Whitehouse only in 1831 Ord. Map. Kelly's Directory now calls it Brighton Camp. It is almost the only English name amid the Welsh in which the parish and district abounds. Possibly both Brighton and Whitehouse date from the 18th cent.

Brilley.

A difficult word, in which English and Welsh forms have got inextricably mixed in the course of centuries. Quite half the pl.-ns. in the parish are still Welsh.

Cf. Brill (Bucks.), which in 1109 is Bruhella. In 1722 there is a Brillstone in Goodrich.

Brimfield.

The Dom. form of the first element is O.E. brom, 'broom'. The Bremel of Leom. Cart. is O.E. bremel, brembel, or brembel - braer, 'a bramblebush'.

Bringewood (Burrington).

M.E. Brink, as below.

Bringsty (Whitbourne).

M.E. Brink (not known in O.E.), 'the descent of a hill', 'the edge, margin, or border of a steep place'. It is not infrequent as a first element in place-names, e.g. Brinklow (Warwicks.), Brinkley (Cambs.), Brinkworth (Wilts.). The second element, -sty, is O.E. stiga, 'a path'. The Trilleck Register in 1355 mentions (in the forest of Dean) 'semita que vocatur le Ynsty'. Also, in the same neighbourhood, Meresty (= boundary-path), Bicknorsty, and Cnappesty ('hill-path'). In 1431 there is a Hamsty in Marcle (Pilley MS.), which is 'the path to [what is still called] Homme house'. In 1395 in Tillington is Wyndemullestye. And in 1722 there is a Stye Field in Credenhill. 'Holesti' is in Mansell Lacy in 1222.

Brinsop.

'The enclosed valley of Bruna or Brun'. There is a Brinshope farm in Wigmore, which in 1831 Ord. Map is Brinsop.

Brinstone (St Weonards). No old forms.

One would say 'Beorn's tun', were it not that nearly all the names in St Weonards are Welsh, which suggests that dangerous conjecture, a hybrid.

Broadfield (Bodenham).

'Broad' is a common element in Herefordshire place-names, as everywhere:- e.g. Broadmoor (Woolhope); The Broad (Eye); Broad Meadow (hamlet in Hardwicke); Broad Oak (Garway), which is in 1548 'Brode Oke parcel of Dore'; Broad Oaks (Bosbury); Broadstones (Stoke Prior); and Broadward (Stoke Prior), which is in 1280 Bradford, and in 1638 Bradward. There is a Brademedue, not identified, in Leom. Cart.; and Leland mentions a Brode Medow, near Wide Marsh, in Hereford.

Brobury .

'The burh on the brook'. Or is it from O.E. broc,'a badger' ?

*Brocheurdie ['in valle Stradelei'].

'Farm on the brook'. See Appendix, -wardine.

Brockaly (Dilwyn).

-ly is a somewhat rare form of -ley (for which see Appendix).

Brockbury (Colwall).

Akin in origin to Brobury (q.v.).

Brockhampton.

It may be from O.E. broc, 'a badger', but more probably from broc, 'a brook', or sometimes 'a swamp', 'a water-meadow'. 'The tun in the ham (i.e. meadow) by the brook'. There is another Brockhampton near Bromyard which is also called Brockington, and is Brockyntone in 1457 (Glos. Cart.).

Brock Hill (Colwall).

Brockmanton (Pudleston).

*Brocote [somewhere near Goodrich ?].

*Brom's Ash [Domesday Hundred].

Bromtrees Hall (Bishop's Frome).

Built and so-called in 1722.

Bromyard.

O.E. brom, 'broom', and feld, 'field covered with broom'. In Shrops. Broom Farm is Dom. Bruma, and Broome is Dom. Brame.

Bronsil (Eastnor).

Also called Brantsill, and Bromeshill. Saxton's map (1577) and the 1831 Ord. Map spell it Bransill. Said to be Welsh; and plausibly connected with bron, 'the breast of a hill', or brun, 'a hill', which in Lib. Land. is bran. In the absence of old forms, however, it is impossible to decide whether it might not equally be English 'Brand's Hill', more especially as it is in a definitely English district. Bronllys in Breconshire is Brwyn-llys, from the personal name Brwyn (H.O.).

Brooks (Clodock).

One of the few English farm-names in the whole valley of the Monnow above Pontrilas.

Broom-y-clos or Brom-y-clos (Llanwarne).

Evidently a 19th century Wallicizing of a 17th century English name.

Cf. (all in our county) Broomy Hill (Hereford and Kingsland) [Broomhill (Sussex) was, in early days, Bromy Knoll]; The Broome (Cradley, Eardisland and Peterstow); and Broome Hill Farm (Tillington), which in 1395 is Bromhulle (Ep. Reg.). In 1722 there is a Broomy Hill in Goodrich.

Broxash (Ullingswick).

Broxwood (Pembridge).

The Bruch (Eardisland).

Evidently 'Bridge'. Cf. the old form of Bridge Sollers. There is in 1272, in or near Lyonshall, a Bruschfurlonge, the first element in which is M.E. brusche (O.Fr. brosse), 'brushwood'.

Bryants (Goodrich).

Called a 'township'.

Bryhampton (Little Hereford).

Bryncurl (Lyonshall).

W. 'hill near the Curl brook'. The name is possibly modern.

Bryngarth (Much Dewchurch).

A quite modern name, though in a typically Welsh district.

Bryngwyn (Dewchurch).

W. bryn gwyn, 'fair hill'.

Cf. Bryngwyn (Mons.) which in Lib. Land. is Brangwayn.

Brynifryd (Stoke Prior).

I suspect this name to be an early 19th century importation. It is the only Welsh name in the Parish, and indeed in the whole district. It is a very common cottage-name in Wales.

Brynspard (Dorstone).

W., possibly bryn-yspardun, 'hill of a spur'.

Buckenhill (Bromyard).

The development of the word is very similar to that of Bucknell (Oxfs.) which is in 1149 Buckenhull, and in 1316 Bokkenhull. The first element may be either O.E. buccan (gen. sing.), 'he-goat', or a pers. n. Bucca. There is a Buckenhill also in Sollershope.

Buck House (Edwin Ralph).

Buckland (Docklow).

O.E. bocland, 'an estate held with certain privileges in virtue of a royal charter or "book"'. The Docklow Buckland belonged in 1290 to Leominster Priory, as did Fencote near by. In Talgarth in the 12th century there was a Cumbebuckeland.

Bucknall (Fownhope).

Buckton (Fownhope).

The first element may be O.E. bucca, 'a he-goat'; but far more probably it is the personal name Bucca.

Bullinghope (Upper and Lower) or Bullingham.

'The enclosed valley of Bula'. The Dom. form is so identified by J.H.R., but is puzzling. The Quo War. form is a scribe's mistake.

Bunshill (Bishopstone).

It might be 'hill of the cup'; but is more probably 'Buna's hill'.

Burcher (Titley).

This is, of course, 'Birch bank'. See Appendix, -over, and cf. Birchover (Matlock).

Burcot (Hereford), or The Burcotts.

It seems to have had two portions, Burcott Row and Kentish Burcott; but I can find no explanation of these names. (For Row see Rough, and Munderfield Row.) The Worcs. Burcote is Dom. Bericote, 'barley-cot'. An Oxfs. Burcot is 1290 Borewardescote, and another Oxf. Burcot is 1198 Bridicote.

Burford (Mathon).

Burgage (Wigmore).

Burghill.

'Hill-town'. For the first element see Appendix, -burg. The Glos. Burghill is in Glos. Cart. (undated) Burehul.

Burghope or Burhope (Wellington).

'Enclosed valley containing a burh'. The Burthrope of the T. de Nev. is almost certainly meant for this place. Silas Taylor says the name means 'Burrowhope from some ancient fortifications' !

Burley (Bromyard).

'Meadow of the burh'. There is another Burley in Colwall, a Burley Gate in Ocle Pychard, a Burling and a Burlingate in Marden.

Burlton (Burghill).

The Burnett (Orcop).

Burrington.

Probably = Burton, q.v.

Berrington (q.v.) is Dom. Boritune; but Barrington (Glos.) is Dom. Bernintone, i.e. 'Beornwine's tun'.

*Burthop [near Bodenham].

Burton (Holme Lacy, Linton).

Linton Burton is almost certainly the Biriton of a delimitation circ. 1300.

O.E. burh+tun, 'fortified dwelling-place'. Some, however, think the first element should be from the name of a man, though there is nothing in Onom. that would fit. There are more than thirty Burtons in Dom., most in the form Bertun or Bertune; but several are Borton or Bortune.

Burton (near Radnor).

'Burhweard's tun'.

Cf. Burwardsley (Ches.). Burwarton (Salop).

Buryhill (Weston-under-Penyard).

See Borough.

*Burzchwyte (Whitbourne).

Forty days indulgence was granted in 1390 to all who contributed to the repair of the bridge at 'Burzchwyte in Whytbourne'.

The Bush (Brilley).

Bushbank (King's Pyon).

Bush Lwyn (Bacton).

There is probably some corruption in this pl.-n. W. llwyn is 'a bush'.

Butford (Bodenham).

Butterley (Edwin Ralph).

'Meadow where they make butter'. Or, possibly, from a personal name Butter or Buthar. (Onom. gives only one Buterus.)

Cf. Butterleigh (Devon); Butterley (Derby); Buttery (Salop), Dom. Buterel; Butterworth (Lincs.), with this cf. also Cheswardine; Butterwick (Lincs.), with this cf. Chiswick; Bitterley (Salop), which is Dom. Buterlie, and Buterleye in 1286 and later.

Butter's Court (Much Dewchurch).

No early forms. Hence one hesitates to entertain the opinion of Mr J. Hobson Matthews that it is a corruption of Bettws-y-coed, though Welsh names are all round it.

The Butts (Allensmore).

Byfield (Clifford).

There is in 1725 a piece of land in Goodrich called 'The Byfields'; and there is still a 'Byfields' in Cradley.

Byford.

'By the ford'. Cf. Attwood; Byfleet (Surrey), 'by the river'; Bytham (Lincs.), 'by the home'.

Byland [somewhere near Leominster ?].

The Byletts (Pembridge).

In 1557 there is a Byrelets at Eggleshall in Staffs.

*Byllack Yatt [Goodrich].

Byster's Gate (Hereford).

The gate existed (and was the city prison) until the early 19th century. The street leading to it was called Bye-street (a name still found in Ledbury). Hence 'Byster's Gate' would seem to be a corruption of Bye-street-gate.

Byton.

'The tun of Boi, or Boia, or Boiga' (all in Onom.).

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