The Fylde & Wyre Antiquarian

Can anyone enlighten me as to the derivation of Bowgreave? As there are no signs of an old habitat, would it have been an area, a physical feature or a hamlet?

Hmm.

Without an old form of the name it's difficult to hazard more than a guess but Brian's suggestion looks pretty fair. 'Bow' in place names does usually mean bow-shaped, curved, arched etc., but could be applied to hills, mounds, bridges, bends in rivers or streams. Could also be a personal name such as 'Bucge' (Bowden is Bucge's dun - a woman's name). Greave probably is from graef - grave, being related to the word for dig but Gravesend is 'at the end of the grove' (graf) so 'grove at the river bend' might be a possibility.

I nearly bought a house in Bowgreave opposite the police station on a fairly sharp right hand bend - maybe the bow in question (grove at the bend in the road)?

Greave also is the mediaeval word for the armour used to protect the lower leg and comes from old French 'greve' - calf (of leg)/ shin so maybe Bowgreave is named after a prominent bow-legged inhabitant?

Maybe someone has an older version of the name or other suggestions

Me again, sorry.

Ekwall says in his Dictionary of Place Names:" graef - grave, trench, pit and graf, graefe, grafe -grove, brushwood, thicket, are difficult to keep apart but the more common element is doubtless the word for grove."

If you look on the map especially the 18 century map of Lancs there is a very pronounced bend in the River Wyre almost u-shaped to the west of where Bowgreave now stands (but no settlement is marked on this or earlier maps). So I think that 'grove/thicket in the river bend' is the more likely name. Curiously for the Bourne watchers to the east of Bowgreave there is 'Bruna Hill'.

The same reason why Pilling was originally almost called Flossy.

Let's have an aerial photograph of Bowgreave up, so we can see what we're dealing with:



And whilst we're at it, the first edition large scale map:



The spelling of 'Bowgrave' on the map is interesting, although, of course, it doesn't actually prove anything. Without any earlier versions of the name it's still all very much open to debate.

I was expecting some connection with Bowland - maybe a grove of trees from which bows were made (Yews?). My next query was going to be about Bruna Hill!

On referring back to an OS map from c1865, I see that Bowgreave only seems to be a very small area which contains no houses but a tan yard. It`s shown as Bowgrave Farm on the above map - opposite the High School entrance at the start of Byerworth Lane South. I assume that the place would not have been given a name at all unless there was something there to attract attention originally. Maybe the tanyard occupied the site of what first caused the place to be given a name?

How far away is Greenalgh Castle, with this 'crescsent shaped feature' close by?

That feature is about a mile from Bowgreave and the hamlet of Bonds intervenes, so presumably not a candidate for the bow! Interesting though.

The tail of the mound appears to join the old railway line (G&KER). Is that a possible association or not? A spoil heap, a planned branch line?

Ekland gives Bowland as 'the land by the bow' probably in the sense of 'bend in the River Ribble'.

The posted map doesn't show the bend in the Wyre which is west of Bowgrave Farm and is a U shape on its left side. The original 'grove' if that's what it was could have been be anywhere within a mile or so. I'm not sure how big a grove or thicket is.

Brun can be a corruption of 'burn' (stream) or could just mean 'brown', may refer to 'brunnr' (well/spring) or even 'brom' (broom). Again without an early form it's guessing although you might have a better guess if there were features on the ground that gave clues.

Well spotted, Phil. Viewed from another angle it could be a spoil heap from the cutting where it joins the main line.





Sorry for the topic drift but here are some shots of what we were there to see, Greenalgh Castle.

Hi
It's me again I think I have an answer to this one (maybe). During my recent study on the roads and Hampson site, I tracked to this site via old roads to Bowgreave from Churchtown and Ribchester. This is just one exciting feature I have found here. It also have a track running via a fantastic feature on sullom hill and then onto the bleasedale circle in a straight line directly from Churchtown. The outer ring is approx 150ft wide with a raised inner circle of about 90ft very similar to Bleasdale dimesions. You can see where the bend of the river has shifted cutting into the ring. The sullom hill pics came out great, And in case there is any doubt in the close vicinity of the hill is Dewforest road, dewhill rd and delph rd ! I would love to know from you guys if I am on the right track with this. Be gentle I' am new to this

Anyway here are the pictures of Bowgreave = Grave on the bow (bend) and sullom hill

Many thanks
Mark