72 



On some Place-Names near Malmesbury , 



Mel-dun-ense." To me it seems clear that the root of the word is the 

 Anglo-Saxon mcel-dun (as in Mal-don in Essex), and that it means 

 literally " Gross-Hill" or as we might say u Church-Rill" ; for " mcel " 

 designates the image of our Lord on the cross, or what we usually call 

 a crucifix. I do not mean to affirm that the names of its two founders 

 may not have had something to do, in later times comparatively, in 

 modifying the name, and without all doubt the form of " Maidulfs- 

 berg " is an ancient one. Still my firm belief is that as " Caer-Bladon" 

 was its name in British times, so " Msel-dun ** marks the period 

 when Christanity was again planted here. Of course its final 

 syllable — burg or bury — was not added till the town grew round 

 the castle, or the monastery. This was at a more recent period, 

 the fact that the dividing line of two of the ancient hundreds — 

 — -Cheggelow, and Sterkley — ran right through the middle of the 

 town, proving that the town itself was subsequent to the formation 

 of the hundreds. 



Christian Malpord : — originally Cristes-mal-ford, that is the ford 

 by Christ's image (=a rood or crucifix). The word Criste-mcel often 

 occurs in Saxon charters to denote points of boundary. Thus in a 

 charter relating to Niwanham (=Newnham, in Kent) we have a 

 boundary -point described as " j?ser Ipe cristes-mal stod/" i.e., " where the 

 crucifix stood " (Cod. Dipl., 526). This place-name is interesting, 

 as shewing us that, in early days of Christanity in Wessex, it was 

 not unusual to put way-side crosses at points of boundary, or near 

 fords. Some who listen to me will know how common they are in 

 various parts of Europe. 



And in passing I may observe, that, as the two last-named places 

 are memorials of the early Christianity of our English forefathers, 

 so such names as Wodnes-dic (=Wansdyke), and Wodnes-beorg, 

 which may be either Wanborough, near Swindon, or Woodborough, 

 near Devizes, as well as Tewes-ley (near Wanborough) , as explained 

 by an expression Teowes-jporn, in Cod. Dipl., 174, and as derived 

 from the names of " Woden " and " Tuisco," two of the deities they 

 once worshipped, are memorials of their previous heathendom. 



Of course it would be possible to multiply examples, which would 

 bear remarkable testimony to the influence of those who from time 



