I wonder if anyone can help with the origin of the name Whapplegate or 
Whappleway?  Any linguists amongst us? – I am informed by a local historian 
that Wappleway, or Whappleway is a bridle way through fields or woods, 
where horses can go but carts cannot and that Whapplegate is a gate on a 
whappleway.  This is the definition given in 'A Dictionary of the Sussex 
Dialect', originally by the Rev. W.D. Parish, 1875, and expanded by Helena Hall, 
1957, and reprinted in 1981. 

However, what is the origin of the word and why has it survived to this day in 
some areas rather than being replaced by the more often used word Bridleway?

I am the Field Ununit manager for the Horsham District Archaeology Group, and 
I have been asked by our chairman to make this enquiry on her behalf. She 
informs me that there is a track between CHRISTS HOSPITAL and 
SOUTHWATER called the WAPPLE TRACK, and there are 2 fields called 
Wapplegate Field. The Southwater one is running east west and I think it 
went up over SHARPENHURST HILL towards ITCHINGFIELD church, following 
the sandstone ridge, perhaps. The one to the east may be going over towards 
Sedgewick or Nuthurst.

I am studying the Slinfold area and also discover that there are also eight 
fields named Whapplegate on the 1843 SLINFOLD parish tithe map, and one 
road named Whapplegate Lane. Furthermore, a colleague informs me that the 
1651 map of Hayes, a farm in Slinfold, has marked on it 'Whapplegate' 
and 'Footwaie to Ichingfeild'.  The legend specifically says 'The single-pricked 
or Diagonal lynes are footwaies, ye duble Diagonales are Horse waies'.  These 
are distinct from actual roads, which are marked as 'waies'.

A2A also gives some in Kirdford.

There are other references to WAPPLE tracks in Sussex including a book on 
Warnham called “By Wapple Way” and I also understand that they are 
mentioned in “Sussex Place Names by Judith Glover

I am aware that the Weald has a large number of footpaths and bridleways, 
connecting the individual farms with each other and with the church.  This is 
typical of an area of dispersed settlement, and I am curious as to how far 
these tracks went, and if they may have joined up these early settlements, 
and therefore survival of the word “Whapple” may well indicate a very early 
origin indeed. 

Open field communities would undoubtedly not have had the same need for 
paths, and former open field areas which were later enclosed would therefore 
have far fewer tracks than elsewhere.

Any observations would be most welcome.