Rownhams
Rownhams, Nursling and Rownhamscounty:
coords:
Hampshire
SU3817
otherwise: Rowenham, 1269; Roghenham, 1301
ROWNHAMS, new parish carved out of Nursling and North Baddesley
From an Old English phrase, probably in a dative case form '(aet tham) rugan hamme'='(at the) rough hemmed-in land' or, more generally, 'enclosure'. The name probably refers to the spur of land formed by the Bracklesham Beds culminating in 'Toot Hill' ('lookout point hill'), which projects into the lower claylands to the north of the present Rownhams. The motorway service station here is a well known viewpoint. The modern form suggests derivation from a surname enshrining the old place name.
