198 



p. JIANNING — PLACE-NAMES AND FIELD-NAMES 



local history would recognize " St. Clair" in the word " Sinklees " 

 or " Sinkleys '' ? Misreading of manuscripts may give rise to new 

 corruptions. The compiler of this paper thought he had found 

 the name of a new Saint in "St. Foyn Field," and it was only 

 after some while that he realized that the name might also be 

 written "Sanfoin Field." Lastly, field -names sometimes preserve 

 a touch of real humour. One can imagine the wrath and despair 

 of the farmer who christened an obstinately barren piece of land 

 " Dry-and-be-damned Field." 



It will, I think, be apparent from these remarks that the study 

 of field-names is one which may well attract more attention than 

 hitherto from students of Natural History, as well as from 

 archaeologists and antiquaries. If members of this Society would 

 devote themselves each to the names of his own parish, we should 

 get together a mass of material which would be invaluable for 

 purposes of comparative study. 



The following is a list of the chief authorities used in this paper, 

 and of the abbreviations used in refening to them : — 



Ordnance Survey, 1 inch to a mile, 1822. (Old O.S.) 



Ordnance Survey, 6 inches to a mile, 1877. (jS^ew O.S.) 



MS. Tithe Book, compiled 1803. (T.B.) 



MS. Tithe Rent Charge Book, compiled 1854. (T.R.B.) 



Chronicles of St. A^lbans Abbey, Rolls Series. 



1. Gesta Abbatum Monasterii S. Albani. (Gesta.) 



2. Registrum Abbatis Johannis Whethamstede. (Reg. Whet.) 

 Cussans' History of Hertfordshire. (Cuss.) 



H. Williams' History of Watford, 1884. (Will.) 



Herts Genealogist and Antiquary, ed. W. Briggs, 1895. (H G.) 



Halliwell - Phillipps' Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial 



Words. (H.P.) 

 Rev. Newton Price, Charter of Oxhey. (Ch. Ox.) 



II. Chief Sources of Nomenclatuee in Field-Names. 

 (These are given in the order of their relative frequency.) 



1. Owner, past or present, e.g. Abraham's Close, Woolmer's Field. 



2. Size, e.g. Eight Acre Field. 



3. {a) The farmhouse and its accessories : 



Bam Field, Buildings F., Cart-house F., Clamp F., Cottage F., 

 Dog Kennel F., Dovehouse F., Fishpond F., Garden F., 

 Gate F., Gatehouse F., Hayhouse F., Hogsty Pightle, Hog- 

 trough F., House F., Pump Mead, Rick Mead, Ricky ai-d 

 Mead, Sheepcote F., Sheephouse F., Soot House F., Stable F., 

 Stack F., Well F., Watering Place F. 

 (b) Buildings, etc., used in other industries : 



Chalk Dell Field, Clay Pit F., Gravel Pit F., Sand Pit F., 

 Brick Kiln F., Kiln F., Lime Kiln F., Mill F., Sawpit F., 

 Silk-shop F., Wharf Mead. 



