“That most lovely of names Delamere” is a fusion of three words written in mediæval documents as “(foresta) de la Mare” (writes a correspondent). The origin of Mare (or Mara) is, however, uncertain. Thursley, in Surrey, is probably not the “only relic Thor has left in English place-names,” for Thurstaston, in the Wirral, is believed to be Thors-stane-ton, or the town by Thor’s stone, and since several neighbouring villages—Irby, Kirby, Raby, Greasby—are clearly of Danish origin, the hypothesis is at least tenable. Cheshire provides a good hunting-ground for the student of place-names, and a good deal of its early history is to be read not only in the meaning of such names, but also in their distribution. In addition to the Danish settlements in the Wirral one is struck by the number of “tons” dotted along its river valleys. Along the Mersey, for example, lie Halton, Warrington, Appleton, Stretton, Preston, Hatton, Stockton, Walton, Norton, Partington, Carrington, Urmston, Withington, Heaton (Mersey), Ashton (on-Mersey). The Dee and the Weaver furnish a similar number of examples. Another page of past history is opened by the location of the “leys,” which lie, almost without exception, on the strip of higher land which runs across the county. Here are Kingsley, Alvanley, Norley, Tirley, Burwardsley, Cholmondeley, and many others.
Source info: MS note by AW “M.G. Feb 7, 1922”; checked online.
Watkins was presumably interested in this article because of the “ley” place names. The first seven words are not in the cutting and are supplied from an online copy.