Westover Liberty
otherwise: Westour', 1200-1299?; Westur', 1263; Westouer; Westouerstrond, 1200-1299?; Westestures, 1313; Westovere, 1319
WESTOVER, liberty, now in Dorset
Gover says 'it is clear that the original was Old English 'westan Sture'='(place) west of the Stour''. It is true that this expression describes its location; it comprised all Hampshire west of the Stour, viz. Holdenhurst and part of Christchurch. On the other hand the forms do not tell such a straightforward story. There is a strong suggestion, going right through to modern times, that the name was hypothetical 'Westofer'='west promontory'. Warren Hill (which ends in HENGISTBURY HEAD), an arm of land enclosing Christchurch harbour, is a fine 'ofer' site as described by Gelling (1984), though no village is known there. However, it is south of the borough, not west. On balance, then, Gover is right, but the name has clearly been understood as 'west promontory', or perhaps as 'west, over (the harbour)', at various times in its history. Just up the river Stour is 'Iford' in Holdenhurst, which is 1272 'Uvre' 13th century 'Evere' ie: Old English 'yfer' which Gelling (1984: 178-9) claims to be identical in meaning with 'ofer'.
