Dear Keith,
"Wolf enclosure" might refer to an enclosure to protect flocks against wolves (the interpretation suggested by Bosworth/Toller Supplement for OE wulf-haga, and followed by Clark Hall and A Thesaurus of Old English). Your suggestion sounds plausible to me, though, especially as the Thesaurus entry shows that this compound is unlike others in the same semantic field.
Best wishes,
Carole
-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Briggs <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:06:31 -0000
Subject: [EPNL] Woolvey (Huntingdonshire)
The earliest recorded spelling W(o)lfheye 1251 (PN BdHu 228), suggests 'wolf-enclosure' (<hæg) rather than 'island'. The Time Team program last Sunday found several enclosures of uncertain date and function, but made no use of the place-name evidence.
Did wolves live in the fens? If so, until when? Were wolves trapped in enclosures? (Cf. the several places called Woolpit.)
Keith
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