Hockey Lane was the name of the old coastal path running east from Hele. It led to the edge of Hele Bay Estate, where there were two fields called Oakey in the 1839 Ilfracombe Tithe. The lane was obliterated by the Turnpike road from Ilfracombe to Combe Martin, opened in 1868. This crossed the two fields in a sharp bend, known locally as  Hockey Corner. The bend was straightened out in the early 1970's, but the old road is still there.

The Oakey spelling suggests oak trees, which is possible, since the fields are in a little valley (hence the bend in the road), but spellings in the Tithe are often inaccurate. Assuming that it should start with an 'H', then there are two possibilities. It could be from hockey or harvest home, a medieval celebration of the close of the harvest; the last of the harvest was brought home in the hock-cart. Alternatively, and more likely, it is from Old English hok, describing a Mallow or Hollyhock.

The fields either side of Watermouth Road, and Galliver's plot beside the stream, all had the address Hele Close in the 1851 Census, but the fields at the end of what Gosse 1853 called Hockey Road are arable fields called Oakey in the transcription of the Ilfracombe 1839 Tithe, owned by Joseph & Thomas Waters & William Holse, held by Edward Lovering.

"Leaving behind me the pretty little village of Hele, with its neat houses and cottages, its trim gardens sloping up the side of old Hillsborough, and its hedges covered with white garments put out by the laundresses for the benefit of this brilliant sun, - I pass over a brook by a rustic one-arched bridge, and wind up Hockey Lane to the lofty downs. The lane, barely wide enough for a wheelbarrow, has been scarped out of the soft slatey rock; but the ruggedness of its sides is concealed by a profusion of verdure....On the edge of the down at the top of this lane is a limekiln for the burning of the blue limestone which is so rare on this side of the country, but a little vein of which occurs just here in the almost universal grauwacke. Here I stood awhile to look out upon the beautiful Bristol Channel" (Gosse 1853 p 104-5)

"Hock [OE hok, now only in Hollyhock]. A name for malveceous plants, especially the common and marsh mallow and the hollyhock (SOED 1987 Vol 1 p 970)

"Hockey, hawkey, horkey 1555 [Origin and etymological form unknown; cf hock-cart] The feast at harvest-home (local)" (SOED 1987 Vol.1 p 971)

"Hock-cart Now only Hist. 1648 [cf hockey] The cart which carried home the last load of the harvest" (SOED 1987 Vol.1 p 971)

"Harvest-home 1573 1. The fact, occasion or time of bringing home the last of the harvest; the close of the harvesting. Also fig. 1596 2. The festival to celebrate the successful homing of the corn (now rarely held) 1573" (SOED 1987 Vol.1 p 930)

"Hock-day Now only Hist. ME [of unknown origin] The second Tuesday after Easter Sunday (or, according to some, Easter week); an important term day, and, from the 14th century, a popular festival; also plural, including the preceding Monday (SOED 1987 Vol.1 p 970-971)