What Is A `dale` When Used As Part Of A Medieval Field Description?

[Sellergarth]

A medieval field, now built upon, near to where I live was known as `Risedale`. Could the `dale` part of the name possibly refer to the undulating nature of the ground? Thanks.

[CrapAtCryptics]

A small valley

[dannyk13]

A valley
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dale

[Sellergarth]

Thanks both. Whilst I understand that dale is another word for valley, the area in question is not in a vale which was why I was wondering if dale in this context could possibly refer to the ridges and furrows of the ploughed field. Guess I`ll never know for certain. :) Thanks again for taking the time to reply, it`s appreciated.

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe it was a valley before the landfill tip was there ?

[CrapAtCryptics]

Maybe, like many old names, it was misspelt somewhere along the way.

[Buenchico]

The Oxford Names Companion states that, as well as meaning a valley, the Old English 'dæl' could also mean a hollow or a pit, so the topographical feature that 'Risedale' refers to might be something very much smaller than a valley (such as a small dip in the land) or even a man-made feature such as a charcoal-burning pit.

[MargoTester]

A dale is a valley, particularly in northern England

[Hypognosis]

A rise and a valley at he same time. Council doesn't know what an 'oxymoron' is and might mistake it for an insult, so don't write to them.

;-)

[Buenchico]

Allen:
The questioner states that the field was (past tense) known as 'Risedale', presumably before the developers ever got anywhere near to it.

Prof Mills may have known a great deal about the names of cities, towns, villages and hamlets across the country but I doubt that even he would have been aware of the name given to a single FIELD (possibly never even written down) by people in the local area!

[Buenchico]

>>> "A rise and a valley at the same time"

'Rise' doesn't necessarily have anything to do with elevation. The village of Rise in Yorkshire gets its name from the Old English 'hrîs', meaning "(a place among) the brushwood".

[Hypognosis]

Fair enough, Cheech.

Although something like a copse does tend to produce a knoll, as the leaf litter traps soil, bird droppings, dirt tracked in by animals and so forth.

Every so often, Time Team would resort to old (1700s) parish maps and fields often did have individual names.

This, to me, implies a frequent need to discuss matters arising and referring to "that field, down the hill from the big oak, then round the corner, after you cross the stream" is just plain awkward. Names save an awful lot of time and verbeage.

[Sellergarth]

Thanks all for the replies. I have since discovered that the strips of land allotted to tenant farmers in the open fields of the middle ages were known as `dales` in this area, perhaps this answers my own question. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

[Slam2011]

OED has 'dale' in the strip-of-land sense - 'A portion or share of land; spec. a share of a common field, or portion of an undivided field indicated by landmarks but not divided off.' - and gives northern usages for it from c. 1241 to as late as 1875.

'Risedale' may not be in gazeteers today but you do find it in census returns as a surname. Perhaps it may once have described more than one locality.