Bitterne
Bitterne, Southamptoncounty:
coords:
Hampshire
SU4413
otherwise: Biterne; Byterne, 1090
BITTERNE
Ekwall derives this from hypothetical Old English 'byhtaern'='building by a bend' with reference to a 'horseshoe shaped ridge' close by. Gover accepts this formal origin but sees a reference, in 'byht' to the prominent bend in the river Itchen here; this is more likely. But old Bitterne is a good mile from the bend. An alternative possibility might be hypothetical 'bit(e)aern'='building for bits' ie: in one of the senses associated with tools or horse tackle. The word 'aern' in Old English often formed compounds with words denoting what it contained.
It is generally thought that Bitterne riverside was the site of the Romano British town of 'Clausentum' and it is regularly marked on local maps. This name is interpreted by Rivet and Smith (1979) as if from British words meaning 'nail' and 'path', and they speculate that there was a causeway or pontoon or suchlike here to give rise to the name. However, this does not precisely suit the Antonine Itinerary distances to Winchester and Chichester, for which Wickham gives a better match (Rivet and Smith 1979: 166 7). The origin just proposed for the Romano British name is less obviously suitable for Wickham.
Shown on an old map by Harrison 1788
- settlement, hamlet - Waltham Hundred - Hampshire
Period - 1780s
otherwise: Clausentum
Shown on an old map by Morden 1695
- settlement, hamlet - Waltham Hundred - Hampshire
Period - 1690s-1720s
Shown on an old map by Ogilby 1675
- house - Hampshire
Shown on an old map by Blaeu 1645
- settlement, hamlet - Waltham Hundred - Hantshire
Shown on an old map by Speed 1611
- settlement, village - Waltham Hundred - Hantshire
Shown on an old map by Norden 1607
- settlement, village - Waltham Hundred - Hamshire
Period - 1590s-1600s
Shown on an old map by Saxton 1575
- settlement, village - Southamtoniae
