34 EXPLANATION OF NAMES. 



ed a paddock. Flamsted [formed of sted, Saxon 

 for a place, and flam or flame^\ indicates the 

 situation of some village conflagration, of which 

 the tradition still remains. Little Go is merely 

 a short cut, or track-way, into the high road, 

 passable only in summer. Great Hide and 

 Little Hide: the word hide was much used 

 formerly for a plot or parcel of land ; because 

 measuring thongs were cut from the hide of a 

 bullock, and as much as one skin, thus lengthen- 

 ed out, would inclose, was called "a hide of land" 

 In the days of William the Conqueror, this phrase 

 was used for a hundred acres. As to Pig's- 

 Mutton Field, the story is merely this, that a 

 sheep, many years ago, was killed there, and 

 nearly devoured by a ravenous sow; but I 

 rather doubt the tale. Pole-hurst Side reminds 

 us of a neighbouring copse, or thicket ; hurst, or 

 rather hyrst, being the old Saxon word for a 



