Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wayndene, Wayngdene, Weyngdene 14th Hosp

• wood called Weyndon 1544 LP

• Wedelee 1147 Templars 15th

• Weyleye 13th Wymondley 1320,1342 Ipm

• Weylegh, Veyleiedene 14th Hosp

• Weyleye juxta Dynesle 1302 Ass

Etymology

Wain Wood is Wayndene , Wayngdene , Weyngdene 14thHosp , wood called Weyndon 1544 LP. Just near, since it is always associated in early records with Preston and Dinsley, must have been the DB manor of Welei , Wilei , later Wedelee 1147 (15th) Templars, Weyleye 13thWymondley , 1320, 1342 Ipm, Weylegh , Veyleiedene 14thHosp , Weyleye juxta Dynesle 1302Ass . The probabilities are that in both these names we have derivatives of OE  wīg , wēoh , 'sacred place, temple,' etc. The use of this element has already been noted under Weedon (PN Nth 85), Weoley (PN Wo 350), Whiligh and Whyly (PN Sx 454, 401), Weeley (PN Ess 365–6) and Patchway (ib. 309), Weedon (PN Nth 30, 45), Willey (PN Sr 175) and Wye (PN K 384), and it is probable that in the DB manor we have yet another example of a compound of this word and leah , hence 'grove where (heathen) worship was carried on.' If that is so, we are probably right in taking Weyngdene as for weohingadene , wigingadene , hence 'valley of the heathen worshippers.' For such a derivative we may note the tempting explanation of Wing (Bk) offered by Wallenberg (PN K 384 n.) and noted in PN Ess liii, which itself perhaps forms the first part of the neighbouring Wingrave (PN Bk 88). It may be noted further that Weedon (Bk) is only 3 to 4 miles from Wingrave. Wain Wood stands high like most of these wig-sites. The medial d in Wedelee is a common AN eccentricity, cf. the history of the forms of Raleigh (PN D 55) and Rayleigh (PN Ess 194).