Published in Windlesora 03 (1984)
© WLHG
Our first journal was named WINDLESORA, the second WINDELSORA, and readers have queried the change. The explanation is that there are dozens of different spellings of the name of the town, and we could ring the changes almost indefinitely. (* Note)
The Annals of Windsor lists the following examples, which are not exhaustive;
WINDESOUR; WINDESOURE; WINDLES-OFRA; WINDLESOURE; WINDLESOUR; WINDLESHORA; WINLESORES; WINDLESHORES; WILESHORES; WINDESHORES; WINDESOURE; WINDLESORES; WYNDESORE; WINDSOR; WINDESOR.
Other examples are given in Margaret Gelling’s Place Names of Berkshire (Dent) which on page 27 states: “The accepted meaning of the name today is ‘river bank with a windlass’, but in the past many fanciful explanations have been offered.“
In the early 17th century the historian, John Stowe, spelt the name WYNDSORE, and commented: ‘The wynd is sore, in highe wyndsor, whereof it may take name …‘. A similar explanation is given for the Ruins of Windsor, the remains of a once stately mansion at Port Gibson, Mississippi, U.S.A. According to a brochure they are so named because of the eerie music made by the wind blowing among the huge capitals.
(* Note) [Printer’s note: Or it could have been we got it wrong!]
Windsor Local History Group 