Names
Harley
The name probably dates from the 8th – 9th C in the mid Anglo Saxon period. Named Harlege in the Domesday Book
In 1320 Rowley was Rouleye. In 1600, Rowley. Rowley means Rough wood or clearing.
Ley or Leah is Anglo Saxon and means woodland clearing.
Blakeway in 1261/2 was Blakeweye The surname Blakeway is very common in the West Midlands and all names probably derive from this place.
Yarchester was Harechester in 1564 – 80
Hares
Julius Caesar observed (Conquest of Gaul – translated S.A. Hanford, Hammonsworth 1951) that it was unlawful to eat Hares. In Britain there is timber of every kind as in Gaul, except Beech and Fir. Hares, fowl and geese they think it unlawful to eat, but rear them for pleasure and amusement.
From Celtic Britain by Lloyd Laing. Most of the tribes of the interior do not grow corn but live on milk and meat and wear skins. Hares, fowl and geese appear regularly in Celtic religious art, particularly during the Roman period.
Queen Bodidicca of the Iceni tribe is said to have always released a hare while praying to her Goddess before setting out on her anti – Roman campaigns many of which were successful. However, the last Celtic v Romans defining battle was the battle of Watling Street, (north-east of Birmingham) when 6000 well-armed and drilled Roman soldiers defeated and slaughtered 80,000 Celtic warriors. Queen Bodidicca is thought to have taken poison and the Celtic reign in Britain was brought to a bloody end.
Hares legends abound in late Celtic folklore (Laing) Hares were one of the animals which witches were supposed to have changed into. More usually it was cats, foxes or serpents. Not eating hares may have been due to the belief that to do so would have made the eater as faint-hearted as the hare.