May Williamson: The Non-Celtic Place-Names of the Scottish Border ...

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LSMM; -chalech, 1143-4 ESC, near Gattonside (Mel): cf Gattonside (No V). There are also
ten names ending in -haugh for which there are no spellings.
/96/ XXIV OE denu,
“valley”, is still in independent use as ModSc -dean, which denotes “a hollow, where the
ground slopes on both sides; generally such a one has a rivulet running through it: a small
valley” (Jam., s.v.). The Northumbrian form is dene (PN NbDu, 227). An unstressed form of
the ending occurs as -den, which is frequently confused with -don, and -ton. The places
discussed below all lie in or beside valleys varying in conformation from narrow ravines to
shallow hollows. It is unlikely that OE denn, “pasture, especially swine pasture”, is
represented in any of the names. It is doubtful to what extent denn was used outside Kent and
Sussex (DEPN, 135), although Dr Macdonald claims that it occurs in West Lothian (PN
WLth, 128).
ROXBURGHSHIRE
BELLENDEAN (Rbt): (85, 8 A):
Bellingdene, c 1300 (1434) Cdstr; Bellinden, 1415 LSMM; Bellenden(n), ib; Blaeu. OE
*belling, “hill”, is perhaps the first element.
BLAKEDEAN (Mrb):
Blakdene, 1358 HMC (Rxb): Blagdenn, 1590 CBP. “Black valley”.
/97/
BOWDEN (Bow): (80 14, E):
Bothendenam (acc), 1119-24 (c 1320) Kelso; Botheldein, 1124-53 NMS; -den(e), 1159 Kelso;
c 1160 ESC; 1165-1214 Kelso; Boulden(e), 1204 LSMM; 1204 APS; c 1220 (16 th ) Dryb;
Bouildene 1204 LSMM; Bolden, late 13 th century Kelso; Boudene, 1567 ib. OE bōþl-denu,
“dwelling-house valley”. The first spelling exhibits a form of assimilation, l – n > n – n. For
loss of medial -th-, compare the numerous English Boltons, from OE bōþl-tūn (DEPN, 49).
DRYDEN FELL (Tvt):
Dridane, 1511 RMS. “Dry Valley”.
HADDEN (Spr): (81, 8 C):
Hauden, 1165-1214 LSMM; 1190-1230 (1400) Soltre; Hal-, c 1170 (c 1320) Kelso; Hawe-
1214-32 LSMM; Hawudene, 1245 CDS. OE haga-denu, “valley where haws abound”: cf
Hawden, Nb (PN NbDu, 106).
HARDEN (Cst):
Hardenhead, Blaeu. Probably OE hara denu, “hare valley”. This is a common combination in
the area: cf Harden Burn (Cst), Harden Mains (Oxn), Hardenside (Can).
HASSENDEAN (Mto): (80, 14 H): /98/
Hadestandena (P), 1124-53 APS; Halestonesden (P), 1153-65 (16 th ) ib; Hastanedene, 1193 C
de M; Hastenesden, 1192-8 LSMM; Hatstanes-, 1195-9 ib; Hastanes-, 1221 Pat;
Hassingdeane, 1304-5 CDS. The first element is an OE personal name *Heaðustān, in an
early Northumbrian form which exhibits no U-Mutation in the first syllable, Haðu-. This
name does not occur independently in OE, but both elements appear in other compounds: eg