Walkford

Walkford, Christchurch
settlement
parish:
county:
coords:
Christchurch
Dorset
SZ2294
refce: HANTSLOC.t

old map: 25inch County Series map -- Hants LXXXVII.6

Walkford
otherwise: Walkeford; Walkeforde, 1280

refce: Coates 1989
WALKFORD, farm, hamlet and GLEN in Milton, now Christchurch East
Ekwall suggests an hypothetical old stream name 'Wealce'='the rolling one'. Gover considers this too and mentions Old English 'Wealeca' a male personal name, as an alternative for the first element. Possibly a Middle English form 'ford that needs to be crossed at a walk' (ie: not on horseback; ctrst. ARFORD) is a simpler solution. Just possibly also 'ford where fulling took place', because an early meaning of 'walk' was 'to full cloth'.

   Old Hampshire Gazetteer - JandMN: 2001