Why is the River Wandle called Wandle?

Some sources claim that Wandsworth was named after the river Wandle, however it is more likely to be the other way around, that the river Wandle was named after Wandsworth.

In 1086, Wandsworth appeared in the Domesday Book as Wandelesorde, Wandesorde and Wendelesorde, at which time the River Wandle was known as the Lutborne. The earliest reference to the river Wandle’s present name, wasn’t until 1586 when it was referred to in its Latinized form, Vandalis.

Why is the River Wandle called Wandle?

Wandsworth got its name from a man named Waendel. Its former names Wandesorde and Wendelesorde meant the “enclosure of Waendel.”

The river Wandle eventually took its name from the same source, but was also called many other names over the years. The first reference to the Latinized version of it’s current name wasn’t until the sixteenth century.

The River’s Former Names

References to the Wandle as Vandalis

The Wandle was referred to as “Vandalis” by Alexander Pope in his poem Windsor-Forest, published in 1713. A quote from the poem can be found below.

"Around his throne the sea-born brothers stood,
Who swell with tributary arms his flood;
First the famed authors of his ancient name,
The winding Isis, and the fruitful Thame;
The Kennet swift, for silver eels renown'd;
The Loddon slow, with verdant alders crown'd;
Cole, whose dark streams his flow'ry islands lave;
And chalky Wey, that rolls a milky wave;
The blue, transparent Vandalis appears;
The gulphy Lee his sedgy tresses rears;
And sullen Mole, that hides his diving flood;
And silent Darent, stained with Danish blood."

Sources Used

The sources used in this post were:

• The Thames and its Tributaries; or, Rambles among the Rivers by Charles. Mackay
• Dictionary of London Place-Names by A. D. Mills
• River Wandle Companion and Wandle Trail Guide

More Information About the River Wandle

• The History of the River Wandle
• 10 Interesting Facts About the River Wandle
• A Guide to Walking Along the River Wandle
• Why is there a Wall in the River Wandle in Earlsfield?

Thank you for Reading my Post

Thank you for reading my post about how the River Wandle got its name. Please leave me a comment below if you have any further information about alternative names of the river.