The Roman Map of Britain Vela? River Fal, Cornwall Velou or Volou? River Crouch

Velox (R&C 271) next

The river Fal is recorded as Fæle 969, 1049, Fale ca.1200, Fal 1378.

The -x of Velox is doubtful, but may be for -is, -v/u, or a final +.

    This might be the old name of the river Crouch TQ 8095 Huolne for Huolue  ca1200. CDEPN p. 172 explains it as ME whuolue, dial. hull, hulve 'a passage for water'. If this represents the name of the Crouch, then this looks much the same as Wellow ERN p.446-7 *uelu- 'to wind, to turn' L. volvo, not particularly suitable for the modern Crouch. But with higher sea levels we could be considering an entirely different situation. The meaning pale blue, as in milk that has turned, might be appropriate here. Were this to be a correct association it would complete a sequence of three eastern rivers - the Alde, Colne and Crouch.
    Coates* chose to associate this name with the Hampshire Wellow (an old name of the Hampshire Blackwater), though it is clearly outside of the geographical context of the Cosmography. The Hampshire Wellow is found as part of the entry Bolvelaunio R&C 31 Nursling Mill.

*Coates, Richard: 1989: Place Names of Hampshire

   This river-name may be etymologically related to Ptolemy's Voliba Broadbury Castle at the source of the river Wolf (no early forms).
    Other names in the immediate vicinity of the Crouch may also be related. The river Roach, a tributary of the Crouch, was Walflestreme 1374; Wallasea Island was Walfliet1216x72.