English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Whatstandwell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Crich

Historical Forms

  • Wattestanwell ford 1390 BelCh
  • Watstandwell 1444 Woll
  • Watstanwell 1510 AD
  • Wasteanwell (sic) 1546 MinAcct
  • Walt' Stondewell 1347 HardCh
  • Walt' Standewell' 1350 Crich

Etymology

Whatstandwell, Wattestanwell ford 1390BelCh , Watstandwell 1444Woll , Watstanwell 1510AD , Wasteanwell (sic)1546MinAcct . The explanation of this name is to be found in the 1390 charter which is an agreement between the Abbot of Darley and John de Stepul , the latter intending to build a bridge over the R. Derwent next to the house which Walter Stonewell had held of Darley Abbey. The ford there was known as Wattestanwell ford . The same man witnesses charters as Walt ' Stondewell 1347HardCh , Walt ' Standewell '1350Crich . Cf. Whatstandwell Bridge infra 439.