The medieval spellings of Black Country towns and what they meant

On paper, the spelling would like a far cry from today's versions

Get the latest Black Country news straight to your inbox

We have more newsletters

Get the latest Black Country news straight to your inbox

We have more newsletters

If you were to step in a time machine and go back 1,000 years, you might find some of our Black Country towns still exist. Our bustling roads and cars would be swapped for tiny dirt tracks and horses and carts.

And there'd no longer be high-rise apartments or brick houses. Instead, we'd see wooden huts with straw roofs. However, the existence of the towns and villages we know today would be around in their earliest forms.

Recorded in ancient scrolls were the old spellings of places in the Black Country. On paper, they would appear a far cry from today's pronunciation. But the names derived from Old English, the early version of our language spoken in the Anglo-Saxon era.

READ MORE: Where is the actual Black Country?

Many Black Country settlements originate from that period, after Anglo-Saxons came to Britain following the Romans. Some of the names were recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086AD, commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest. Others come from different sources, some earlier and later than that time.

The towns and villages were mainly named after landowners and the landscape. Here are the medieval spellings and what they meant:

Bilston was originally spelt Bilsatena. It was recorded with that spelling in 985AD when it was granted to Lady Wulfruna in a charter. Then, 90 years later in the Domesday Book, it was recorded as Billestune. It's believed the first part, Bil, refers to a person or a nearby hill, as bile meant hill in Old English. Some historians believe the hill could have been Sedgley Beacon. Therefore the original name could have meant the dwellers at Bil.

Bloxwich is thought to have originally been spelt Blochescwic. Its historical records are less clear but historians believe it was originally a small settlement in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, named after the family of Bloc. The wic part meant village.

Bushbury was listed in the Domesday Book as Biscopsberie. It was named after the word bishop while berie was another version of burh meaning fort.

Darlaston is thought to have been named after a landowner called Deorlaf and the second part ton refers to a manor. Professor Carl Chinn MBE believe its name originates between 750AD and 950AD. However, it was officially first recorded in 1262AD as Derlaveston.

Oldbury was originally recorded as Ealdenbyrig in the Domesday Book. The eald part simply meant old while byrig referred to a fortification or fortified town.

Pelsall was first spelt as Peolshalh in a 994AD charter between Lady Wulfruna and a monastery at Wolverhampton. The town was named after a landowner called Peol. And the second part of the name referred to a piece of land between two streams, which was owned by Peol.

Smethwick was originally spelt Smedeuuich, with the letter d having an eth pronunciation. It was recorded in the Domesday Book and is believed to have meant a smith's place of work or a settlement on smooth land.

Stourbridge was first spelt as Sturbrug or Sturesbridge in 1255AD, when it was mentioned in a document known as the Worcestershire assize roll. The town was named after a bridge which went over the River Stour.

Tettenhall was originally spelt Teottanhalh. The town was named after a landowner called Teotta, who owned a small valley or hollow, known as a halh. Tettenhall was recorded in the Domesday Book. And 100 years earlier, it was the scene of huge battle between the Anglo-Saxons and Danish Vikings in 910AD. The battle is also thought to have taken place in near Wednesfield, too.

Tipton was recorded in the Domesday Book as Tibintone. It was named after a landowner called Tibba and tone referred to a manor, with the full name meaning Tibba's manor.

Wednesbury was first recorded in a document as Wodensbyri, in a document dated 1004AD. The spelling was found in a copy of a will, belonging to a nobleman called Wulfric Spot. The town itself is named after the Anglo-Saxon god of war Woden and bury derives from byrig, meaning a fort.

West Bromwich was recorded in the Domesday Book as being spelt Bromwic. The first part of its name meant broom and wic was the Old English word for village.

Wednesfield was originally known as Wodensfeld and got its name from the Anglo-Saxon god of war Woden. The town was the scene of a huge battle between the Anglo-Saxons and Danish Vikings in 910AD, which some believe took place in Tettenhall as well.

Willenhall was recorded as Willenhalch in the year 732AD. It was named after a landowner called Willah, who owned a small valley known, originally known as a halh. In the Domesday Book 300 years later, the town was recorded as Winenhale.

Wolverhampton is named after Anglo-Saxon noblewoman Lady Wulfruna. She was granted land in 985AD by King Ethelred, which was known as Heantune, and it became Wulfruna's Heantune.