What's in a name?
The variety of names which have been used for the Wittenham Clumps may help us understand something of their former significance to different groups of people.
Resent day names
At present the term Sinodun Hills is used for the ridge of three hills, comprising Round Hill, Castle Hill and Brightwell Barrow. Round Hill and Castle Hill (in use by 1716) are self-explanatory names. Brightwell Barrow is topped by a burial mound (barrow)and lies within the parish of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell.
Wittenham Clumps
The name Wittenham Clumps refers to the first two hills only, with the most prominent clumps of trees. They have also been called the Dorchester Clumps. Round Hill has been called Harp Hill or (in 1716) Welsh Harp Hill, apparently because of its shape. Castle Hill was referred to by Leland in 1542 as Sinodune.
The two rounded shapes have reminded others of feminine contours, giving rise to the more informal names Berkshire Bubs or Bumps,or Mother Dunch’s Buttocks (mentioned in 1789). Bubs presumably corresponds to the modern word ‘boobs’.
Mother Dunch's Buttocks
Mother Dunch’s Buttocks refers to a lady of the Dunch family, the 17th C owners of Little Wittenham manor. Was she of ample proportions? Was it a term of endearment or a derisive comment? Who knows? Was it Anne, Elizabeth or Mary Dunch? The alabaster monument to Mary Dunch in St Peter’s church, Little Wittenham, does not indicate a large lady, but rather a slender-waisted,, rather ‘petite’ woman.
The name Berkshire Bubs refers to the previous location of this area within the County of Berkshire, prior to its incorporation into Oxfordshire in 1974.
Some say the name Sinodun is pure Celtic. Seno-Dunum means 'Old Fort' and implies a very long and ancient history. Could the name be derived from the French “sein” meaning breast, or synod referring to an assembly?
Wittenham
Wittenham could be from Saxon Witta’s Ham meaning Witta’s homestead or watermeadow. Alternatively, the name could be from Vedonium, Brito-Latin for 'Wet Town', referring to the flooding river rather than the miserable weather!
Little Wittenham
was also known as Abbot's Wittenham or West Wittenham.
Long Wittenham
was once Earl’s Wittenham, after Gilbert 'the Red' De Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Lord of Wittenham whose monument is in the village church.
