HAVE you noticed how several places near Romsey have ‘ridge’ in their name?

Some are ‘bridges’ but not all. It has come about like this. In geological time, this part of the world was under water and much sand and gravel was deposited.

Then the water receded, and the River Test carved a channel through this great heap of sand and gravel.

The Anglo-Saxons came along much later and were struck by the plateaux on either side of the Test near Romsey and set about naming them.

Kimbridge is undeniably a bridge: it has been suggested that the name is a corruption of King’s Bridge.

But there are four names that relate to ‘ridge’ not ‘bridge’. To the west, we have Awbridge, Ridge and possibly Stanbridge. On the east Packridge is to be found.

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Maypole dancing at Ridge School, 1921 (Image: Romsey Local History Society)

The Awbridge name is perhaps the oddest of the lot. According to the place-name experts, the name is derived from Abedric, which is found in the Domesday Book. Before the Battle of Hastings, Godwin, father of King Harold who was killed during the battle, had a holding called ‘Abedric’ which was split by William the Conqueror. One part was awarded to Hugh of Port and the other to Bernard Pancevolt (known to us as Pauncefoot). The name ‘Abedric’ has morphed into Awbridge. 

I have seen no explanation of when this land belonged to the Abbey of St Peter in Winchester, nor how it came into the king’s hands. Not that this necessarily means the interpretation is wrong. 
Ridge is nice and straightforward lying, as it does, at the top of Pauncefoot Hill.

I think the name Stanbridge was carved out of the name Ridge, although the experts tell me I am wrong, and they argue that the letter ‘b’ in the middle of the word makes it undeniably a bridge.

Furthermore I have been told that ‘b’ is not found as an insertion in this context. The name ‘Stanbridge’ can be found in both Dorset and Bedfordshire where neither is ambiguous.

There is a 16th century example of the area being called Stamrigge, which would fit my hypothesis. In 1341, there was a government enquiry into who was responsible for repairing the bridge at Stanbridge and in 1523 Ralph Hall of Romsey left 3 shillings and 3 pence (17p) for ‘manteyning of the brigge at Stanbrigge’ which could undermine my case.

The name ‘Packridge’ implies that it was a route used by medieval drovers, perhaps taking animals to market in Southampton. ‘Puckridge’ would be much more fun as that name is associated ‘Puck’ and would imply that goblins live there.