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Document number: 5800
Date: 17 Dec 1846
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: PHILLIPPS Thomas
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection 2: Bodleian Library, Oxford - Phillipps-Robinson Coll (author's letterbook)
Collection 2 number: e.380 ff 137v - 140
Last updated: 15th February 2013

Middle Hill
17 Decbr 1846

My Dear Sir

I should be inclined to think that Osbaldeston was derived from the monumental Stone of Osbald, but I could not affirm it positively without seeing the most ancient mode of writing the word. Bernhard sounds more modern than Osbald & therefore I think it more likely to be Bernhard’s tune i.e. town. If I should ever find them written Osbaldestane & Bernardistane it wd satisfy me that they were derived from the sepulchral memorials of Osbald & Bernhard. [ill. del.]

The rule to know whether ton signifies a town is, when the word in Domesday is written tun e the Scotch to this day I believe call a Town a Tune or Toun pronounced Toon.

I am glad to find so good authority for Mansel from Le Mans. The derivation from a little sleeve is puerile, altho’ such nicknames do sometimes occur. Allow me to suggest another origin for a Pedlar, namely the Saxon Pightel, which signifies a small piece or portion. And he is called a Pighteler, because he carries about only a small portion of his goods for sale-

I have looked at your derivation of Town. When it is considered that Dun is almost allways applied to a small conical hill with steep sides (ie. small compared with a mountain) upon which a small army may post itself & be secure, we may I think derive the word from the Celtic Dyn, which is a fortified hill I believe. Thus we have Dinas Bran, and I an inclined to believe the names of Tollawardigne Bedwardyne Wynterdyne Shrewardyne Timberdyne all signify hill in the last syllable altho’ the invariable accompaniment of the penultima with the ultima would seem to shew that the ultima is not sufficiently expressed without the other. The Hills of conical form blown & heaped by the Winds on the loose sands of the Sea Shore are called Dunes. Now these are perfectly useless as a position for an army in warfare therefore the word Dunes can have no signification connected with Military Matters. We have Dunster in Somerset. And does not the word Dungeon come from the word Dun the hill, as being the prison in the Dune –

The Downs of Sussex & Wilts must be derived from some other word, unless the small valleys or Denes which intersect them sd thereby occasion their [illegible deletion] being called small Hills or Downs.

I like your interpretation of Olfend, but would it not equally apply to the Elephant, which is also a Knee-bender, and is more like in the sound of the words.

Do you not think it likely that Annona is the compound of the two Persian words Al Nona Al the Nona Custard Apple. We make, in the same way, one word of Alkolran the Koran. Judson

Judson I believe to be filius jodoci- Mortlock is taken from the Parish of Mortlake in Surrey and is older than the Conquest, therefore not likely to be derived from Norman words.

The Saxon Name is Mortelage

Frankland is a corruption of le Frankelein & [ill. del.] therefore not the same with Lanfranc.

Romilly? from the Norman Rumilley

Ofsulston is Osulf’s stone or Town for in Domesday it is called Osulvestane.

Timberlake is the name of a Place. The termination tone occurs very frequently in Domesday & I was doubtful if it belonged to stan or tune, but I found this morning the same place having both tone & tune wch decides the question.

I am very glad to hear there is a prospect of seeing you here in spring & I shd be glad if your Photographer could come at the same time.

If you have done any more of the Ancient Charters by Photography like that which you were so good to give me, I should be glad to know who is yr Agent in Town for the disposal of them.-

Believe me my Dear Sir Most faithfully Yours
Thos Phillipps

H.F. Talbot Esqr
Lacock Abbey

[Draft copy in TP hand – from letterbook in the Bodleain Library]

Henry Fox Talbot Esqr Lacock Abbey MH 17 D 46

My dear Sir

I should be inclined to think that Osbaldeston was derived from the monumental Stone of Osbald, but I could not affirm it positively without seeing the most ancient mode of writing the word. Bernhard sounds more modern than Osbald & therefore I think it more likely to be Bernhard’s tune i.e. town. If I should ever find them written Osbaldesane & Bernardistane it wd satisfy me that they were derived from the sepulchral memorials of Osbald & Bernhard.

The rule to whether ton is derived from signifies a town is, when the word in Domesday is written tun a e the Scotch to this day I believe call a Town “ a Tune (or Toun, pronounced Toon.)

I am glad to find so good authority from Mansel from Le Mans. The derivation from a little sleeve is puerile, altho’ such nicknames do sometimes occur. Allow me to suggest another origin for a Pedler, namely the Saxon Pightel, which signifies a small piece or portion & he is called a Pighteler, because he carries bout only a small portion of his goods for sale.

I have looked at your derivation of Town. When it is considered that Dun is almost always applied to a small conical hill with steep sides (ie. small compared with a mountain) upon which a small army may post itself & be secure, we may I think derive the word from the Celtic Dym, which is a fortified hill. Thus we have Dinas Bran, and I an inclined to believe the names of Tollawardigne Bedwardyne Wynterdine Shrewardyne all signify hill in the last syllable altho the invariable accompaniment of the penultima with the ultima would seem to shew that the ultima is not sufficiently expressed & without the other. The Hills of conical form blown & heaped by the Winds on the loose sands of the Sea Shore are called Dunes. Now these are perfectly useless as a retreat position for an army in warfare therefore the word Dunes can have no signification connected with Military Matters. We have Dunster in Somerset. And does not the word Dungeon come from the word Dun the hill, as being the prison of the Dune.

The Downs of Sussex & Wilts must be derived from some other word, unless the small valleys or Denes which intersect them shd thereby occasion their ( cognome of (Marton (in a dream) being called small Hills or Downs.

I like your interpretation of Olfend but would it not equally apply to the Elephant, which is also a Knee-bender, and is more like in the sound of the words.

Do you not think it likely that Annona is the compound of the two Persian words Al Nona Al the Nona Custard Apple. We make in the same way one word of Alkolran The Koran.

Judson I believe to be filius jodoci. Mortlock is taken from the Parish of Mortlake in Surrey & is older than the Conquest, therefore not likely to be derived from Norman words. The Saxon Name is Mortelage Frankland is a corruption of le Frankelein & therefore not the same with Lanfranc.

Romilly? from the Norman Rumilly Ofsulston is Osulf’s stone or Town for in Domesday it is called Osulverstane Timberlake is the name of a Place The termination tone occurs very frequently in Domesday I was doubtful if it belonged to stan or tune, but I found this morning the same place having both tone & tune which decides the question.

I am very glad to hear there is a prospect of seeing you here in spring & I shd. be glad if your Photographer could come at the same time.

If you have done any more of the Ancient Charters by Photography like that which you were so good to give me, I should be glad to know who is your Agent in Town for the disposal of them.

Believe me my dear Sir Most faithfully Yours
Thos Phillipps

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