When you look on a map of locations for places which have 'Cripplegates' and add them to other locations which mention 'cripple' an interesting pattern emerges. The vast majority of these places are in the South East of England or the North West of England. None of them are north of the Humber. Clearly the word 'Cripplegate' is not a dialect word. As to its origin, it seems likely the word was first used when England and Wales were one entity.

1. The Distribution of the word 'Cripple' as a place-name in England
and Wales
by Keith Armstrong
Abstract:
Keywords: Anglo-Saxons, Disability Studies, Human Geography,
Onomastics, Place Names, Toponymy
London
2016

2. Acknowledgments
This paper couldn't have been put together without the assistance of many people.
I am especially grateful for the time and assistance given by I am very grateful to all
those who have assisted me in so many ways with this research: Eva Skoulariki
and Clara Creze .
Because of my physical impairment, I would also like to thank the many people who
have helped me to live and have given me support. This includes the people of
Camden.
-----------
I must point out that any factual errors or sentiment unwittingly suggested are
my responsibility alone. The punctuation and typeface of the authors quoted
have at times been modified.
All rights are reserved. The author's moral rights are asserted. No part of this
paper may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any
electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without written permission from the author.
© Copyright 2016 Keith Armstrong, London

3. INTRODUCTION
When you look on a map of locations for places which have 'Cripplegates' and add them to
other locations which mention 'cripple' an interesting pattern emerges. The vast majority
of these places are in the South East of England or the North West of England. None of
them are north of the Humber. Clearly the word 'Cripplegate' is not a dialect word. As to its
origin, it seems likely the word was first used when England and Wales were one entity.
So that leaves either after King Æthelstan or Athelstan (Old English: Æþelstan, Æðelstān,
meaning "noble stone"; c. 894 – 939) or before the Romans left. However, because we can
date the first use back to King Æthelbald (also spelled Ethelbald, or Aethelbald) (died 757)
who was the King of Mercia, , even then there are place names in Wales to consider and as
Wales was not conquered until much later.
Topologists have a number of explanations for the place name'Cripplegate'. Hoare on
Wansdyke suggests a 'cave'. An Account of the church and the parish of St Giles without
cripplegate, John James Baddeley, 1888 in the city of London Page 2 "A den or passage
underground, a burrow". This is confirmed by the occurrence of the name in the
Doomsday Book, where in the Wiltshire portion we read: "To wansdyke, thenceforth by the
dyke to crypelgeat".. The Dictionary of Old English simply suggests a hole in the hedge to
let sheep through, but I hardly think it's realistic to suggest that this would be a good
description to an area of land the size of a large Roman fort. To me all these suggestions
seem to be inadequate. Perhaps we should look that the place might have been named
because of an activity such as Anglo-Saxon social services took place or even a small shrine
for the worship of emperor Claudius I, rather than a specific geographical location.
There are no places named 'lame', other than possibly Lambeth.
Further reading
The Old English Origin of the Word 'Cripple' (Revised)- Keith Armstrong
https://www.academia.edu/3631339/The_Old_English_Origin_of_the_Word_Cripple_
Revised_-_Keith_Armstrong
http://www.slideshare.net/yourkamden/the-old-english-origin-of-the-word-cripple-
revised-ke
A few words about the word 'claudius': An etymological journey:
Five short essays on the word 'claudius'- Keith Armstrong
https://www.academia.edu/3631405/A_few_words_about_the_word_the_claudius_An_
etymological_journey_Five_short_essays_on_the_word_claudius-_Keith_Armstrong
http://www.slideshare.net/yourkamden/a-few-words-about-the-word-claudius-keith-
armstrong

4. Cripple Gate Lane, Southwater, West Sussex; Cripplegate Barn, Cripple Gate Ln, Hoghton,
Preston; Halifax near Cripple Gate Lane,, Hoghton, Preston, Cripplegate Lane, Rochdale,
Lancashire; Cripplegate, Worcester, Worcestershire, Cripplegate, Southminster, Essex,
Cripple Gate Lane, East Boldre, Brockenhurst, Hampshire; Cripplegate, North
Newnton,Wilton Wiltshire; Cripplegate, Barbican, Cripplegate, London, EC2;
Cripple Gate, Llanidloes, Powys Wales; Cripple Gate, Standish, Wigan, Greater Manchester.
Crepulgate Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Wern-y-cwrt, Cripple Creek , Monmouthshire, Wales
Cripple Steet., Maidstone, Kent
Cripple St, Somerset
Cripple Hill, High Halden, Ashford District, Kent
Cripple Corner, Pebmarsh, Braintree District, Essex
Cripps Corner, Staplecross, East Sussex

5. Cripple Syke, Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Cripple Sidings Ln, Peterborough
Crippas Hill St Just Penzance, Cornwall
Source: Google Maps