ERCALL MAGNA
A brief journey through time
The Place
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Arkle?
So why is it spelt Ercall and pronounced Arkle? Not really an easy question to answer. In 1086 it was spelt Archelou (hence the web site name) and since that time it has gone through a variety of changes according to the book 'The place names of Shropshire'. These are as follows;
Archalou (1086), Archalue, Arcalewe, Ercalon, Erkalon, Ercalewe, Erkalow, Erkaloe, Erkalewe, Ercalu, Ercaluwe, Ercalowe, Magna Ercaluwe, Ercaluwe Magna, Erkalewe Magna, Ercalewe Magna, Erkelowe, Ercalowe Magna, Herrcalue, Erkehale, Erkalwe, Ercalwe, Ercalwe Magna, Arcalwe, Hegh Arkall, Arcoll, High Arcall, High Arcoll, Higharkole, Arcol, Erkall, Miche Ercall, High Ercolle, Greate Ercoll, Ercall, Great Ercall, Highe Ercall, Magna Ercall (1669), High Ercall (1710), Archaule, High Erchal, Archall Magna, Great Axole, Earkall.
As can be seen 'Arkle' in various spellings is quite common and its probable that the pronunciation has been passed down through time. I have spelt it Arkle as when I am putting in the various census / parish records that's how the voice recognition software I use keeps misspelling it.