PROCEEDINGS OF THE COTTESWOLD CLUB 23 



Leys were open forest glades were the cattle loved to 

 lie. And in some cases Ley was applied to land that lay 

 fallow for a year or two. We may find this word in 

 Cowley, Berkeley. 



Dens were deep wooded valleys, often used as swine 

 pastures. As these Dens afforded shelter to various 

 animals so they had various prefixes, as Hare-den or 

 Harden, Sow-den or Sugden, Hog-den or Ogden. 



Worth is a common suffix in Gloucestershire, and 

 means a sufficiently warded place, but came to denote a 

 small homestead or an enclosure. Worth is connected 

 with an old verb, which we find in our Bible ; we read in 

 Ezckiel, Ch. 30, v. 2 : " Woe worth the day." This verb 

 is the same as Werden in German, which signifies to be 

 and to become, so Worth is a place where people are in 

 residence. Examples — Ashleworth, Wallsworth, Brock- 

 worth. 



Dole is sometimes found in connection with the names 

 of fields. Dot is a British word for a meadow. But it 

 probably means an allotment, that is a piece of ground cut 

 up among a number of persons ; just as we say a dole 

 of food. In BuUey parish we find Shewell's Dole and 

 Tucker's Dole ; in Huntley there is Gingell's Dole. 



Load, or Lade is often found in Gloucestershire in 

 connection with rivers. It is derived from the verb to 

 lead, and used to mean a place where the cattle could be 

 led over. But now it often signifies a ferry. Examples — 

 The Lower Load at Tewkesbury, Framiload, St. Mary de 

 Lode, Lechlade. 



Croft was an inclosed field for pasture, but has given 

 rise to such combinations as Ban-Croft or Beancroft, 

 Bere-Croft or Barley Croft or perhaps Bare-Croft. Ex- 

 ample — Lao Croft in Dymock, Lao Croft means Hill 

 Croft. 



Hurst was a name for a wood. Hazle-hurst a wood 

 where there were hazles. Lvndhurst a wood where lime 



