Bratley Plain

Bratley Plain, Ellingham, Harbridge and Ibsley
parish:
county:
coords:
Ellingham, Harbridge and Ibsley
Hampshire
SU2108
refce: HANTSLOC.t

old map: 25inch County Series map -- Hants LXXI.2

Bratley Plain
otherwise: Brottele, 1365; Bratteley, 1490

refce: Coates 1989
BRATLEY INCLOSURE, PLAIN and WOOD
Old English/Middle English 'brittle clearing/wood'. The Middle English word 'brotel' is used of a tree (about 1325) and (figuratively) of ground (about 1395). See also INCLOSURE.
PLAIN
This word is used in its ordinary sense of 'large tract of open land' both in the New Forest (BRATLEY PLAIN 'Wilverley Plain, Janesmoor Plain') and in the Forest of Bere (COWPLAIN).

   Old Hampshire Gazetteer - JandMN: 2001