The Place-Name Evidence for a Routeway Network in Early Medieval England

Description

This study uses place-names to suggest the major routes in use in early medieval England. Many Roman roads existing by the fifth century are known. Some fourteenth century routes in existence can be deduced from the Gough map of c.1360, and seventeenth century routes from Ogilby's road atlas of 1675. Between the fifth and fourteenth centuries there is little information about routes except in scattered charter boundary references. Here it is suggested that this gap can be partially filled using place-name evidence. Certain names such as Stratton, Drayton and Compton occur consistently by Roman roads and a few other old routes but rarely elsewhere. A string of such names along a route suggests that it was in use. Hythe and Eatonindicate waterways in use. The needs of travellers, possible destinations and how such a naming system may have arisen is considered. Front Cover Title Page Copyright Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS GENERAL ABBREVIATIONS NOTE ON COUNTY BOUNDARIES AND COUNTY ABBREVIATION COUNTY ABBREVIATIONS AND PLACE-NAME DICTIONARY BIBLIOGRAPHY NOTE ON MEASUREMENTS AND TERMINOLOGY PART 1 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION: SETTING THE SCENE CHAPTER 2. METHOD CHAPTER 3. ROAD TERMS CHAPTER 4. CROSSING–PLACE TERMS CHAPTER 5. FACILITIES EN ROUTE CHAPTER 6. WATER TRANSPORT CHAPTER 7. OTHER PLACE-NAMES ASSOCIATED WITH ROUTES CHAPTER 8. PLACE-NAMES USED AS LANDMARKS ON ROUTEWAYS CHAPTER 9. SYNTHESIS CHAPTER 10. FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS: CHRONOLOGY AND SUPPORTING EVIDENCE CHAPTER 11. CONCLUSION PART 2. APPENDICES BIBLIOGRAPHY MAP