Calne: First written reference and name origin

Saxon King Edred

The earliest known reference to Calne in writing is within the Will of King Edred (also Eadred). This Saxon king lived between 923 and 23 November 955 and was the grandson of Alfred the Great.

Within his Will, he leaves the estates of Downton, Damerham, and Calne to the Old Minster at Winchester. It would seem that at least since the 9th century, Calne was owned by royalty and had Crown property in the town (then probably no more than a hamlet).

While the first documentary evidence for our town name appears in 955, A Dictionary of British Place Names states that the name is pre-English. So, it is likely that the name was well established by the time of Edred's will. Ekblom (1917) states:

'This name must be Celtic, probably the same word as Colne, Lancs. 

(occurring as Calna, Caune in the 13th cent.)'.

The origin of the name Calne is not known for certain, but is thought to be named after the river 'Calne', from the Celtic elements Col-aun, which means meeting or current of waters. This meeting is likeley Abberd Brook and the River Marden. If the 'Cal' element of Calne and Calstone have the same origin, then it would make 'Calne' the ancient name for the River Marden, the source of this river being Calstone Wellington. However, it is not known how the river became known as the Marden.


Interestingly, Colne in Lancashire, which in 1124 was known as Calna (in 1091, Calne was also refered to as Calna). A Dictionary of British Place-Names advises that Colne is a pre-English river-name of uncertain meaning - identical with River Calne in Wiltshire.

While we may never know the true origin of the name of our town, with place and river names changing, along with the development of language over time, we do know that it is truly ancient.

 

To discover more about the place names of Calne, buy the book:

References:
Ekblom, E (1917) The Place-Names of Wiltshire. Upsala. APPELBERGS BOKTRYCKERI A-B.
Goold, P. (n.d.). King Eadred of Wessex. Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society.
Marsh, A. (1904). A history of the borough and town of Calne. Calne: R.S. Heath.
Mills, D. (2011). A Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford. Oxford University Press.
Treloar, P Q (2003) Calne in Camera. Calne. Redpin Publishing.
Mills, D., 2011. A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.