Page "Wivenhoe" Paragraph 3

The place-name Wivenhoe is Saxon in origin, deriving from the personal name Wifa's or Wife's spur or promontory ( hoe ).

The place-name is now usually pronouced ' Wivvenho ', but the Essex accent would traditionally have rendered it as ' Wivvenhoo '.

The town's parish church, St. Mary the Virgin, is of Saxon origin though the present building is largely Victorian.

According to folk etymology, the name derived from " Wyvernhoe ", originating from the mythical beast called a wyvern and the previously mentioned ridge ( hoe ).

The town's football team, Wivenhoe Town FC, is nicknamed ' The Wyverns '.