Reaney and Birch
The derivation of the village name has many theories. It is generally thought that the Walter part
is due to a quote by P.H.Reaney to Walter de Tey. The Belchamp part has many theories, from the French
(Norman) through Anglo-Saxon and the description of an topographical feature.
Reaney quoting Walter de Gray Birch
I can find no such reference in P.H. Reaney's "The Place Names of Essex".
I cannot locate any reference to the 904 date in the copy of Cartularium Saxonicum by Walter de Gray Birch that I can find.
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The links in the text below are to my research:
The village history from the Village Hall website
Very little has been written about the history of Belchamp Walter, archaeological finds have been made in
the church indicating a Roman presence, this is not surprising due to the nearness
of
Hill Farm , Gestingthorpe, where there is
evidence of a significant Roman site. Like many places in England the earliest written history of the
village appears in the Doomsday Book
The 904 date:
The name of Belchamp according to P.H. Reaney’s Placenames of Essex states that in this instance it is of
Anglo-Saxon rather than the more common French origin, possibly derived from a now lost Old English word Bylc,
(“a lump or load”) hence it is thought that that Bylc was the name given to the ridge that runs between
Belchamp Walter and Belchamp St Paul.
It is clear that originally the second element was ham (“a settlement”).
He cites the earliest example as circa 940, which he takes from
Birch’s Cartularium Saxonicum, (1885-1893).
Reaney does not "cite" Birch with repect to Belchamp Walter, he was refering to to the lost Old English
word "Blyc" .
This is an example of misquoting the original. In addtion, the reply from Essex County Council,
Hertiage Services quotes the date 940, not 904.
