NOTES ON LOCAL ETYMOLOGIES. 
49 
The two Plymptons are commonly distinguished by the dedications 
of their churches — Mary and Maurice; but Plympton Erie goes 
back to the days of the Redverses and its secular ownership as 
distinct from that of the monks. Ecclesiastical ownership is found 
indicated in many ways. Here we have Shaugh Prior ; Buckland 
Monachorum, "the Monks' Buckland," a necessary distinction even 
if there had been no other buck or hoc land — that is, " land held 
by deed or charter," about — than that of Egg Buckland, originally 
ack or "oak" Buckland. And the three Suttons which eventually 
merged into Plymouth, were respectively Sutton Prior, Sutton 
Valletort or Vautier, and Sutton Half. It is indeed remarkable to 
what an extent the old ownerships have left their mark. The 
Valletorts held Mount Edgcumbe long ere the Saxon Edgcumbes 
grafted the succession of that Norman race on to their own native 
stock • and Mount Edgcumbe is even yet the tithing of Vaulters 
Home, or "Valletort's ham." Mount Wise recalls the time when 
the Wises, who then owned Stoke Damerel, in rivalry of their 
neighbours built their barton house where the fort now crowns its 
rugged crest. Morice Town (New Passage when the first ferry was 
established between it and Torpoint) preserves the memory of the 
Morices, from whom the manor came to the St. Aubyns. Mount 
Batten takes its name from the old Parliamentary Admiral 
Batten, and before the Siege was known as Hoe Stert, or 
"tail," the same word we have in Start Point now, and in 
the name of the redstart. Mount Gold in likewise manner hands 
down the name of Colonel Gold, Roundhead governor of Ply- 
mouth, who died in harness. Eort Stamford recalls the luckless 
Parliamentary General, the Earl of Stamford, who was defeated at 
Stratton. I was once inclined to connect Prince Rock with Prince 
Maurice, but the name is centuries older than his time, and may 
record in its way the visits of the Black Prince. Tothill is un- 
doubtedly from the Saxon tot, " an enclosure," and hill. Mutley 
is Magdalen. The old leper or Maudlyn house occupied very much 
the site of the Blind Institution, and the fields hard by were 
thence named the Maudlyn — Maudley — Mudley — Mutley — fields. 
This is not more singular than the derivation of Turnchapel from 
" St. Ann Chapel," then Tannchapel. The remains of the chapel 
may still be seen near Hooe. Oreston I take to be purely Saxon — 
" the tun on the shore " — ora — or perhaps " the shore-stone." 
VOL. VII. 
D 
