Dumble

Dumble is a regional word used in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England to refer to a wood lined stream often in a small, steep sided valley.

Such areas are generally to the south of Southwell. Here the clay bedrock plateau (Mercia Mudstone) is dissected by a number of streams, forming steep sided, wooded valleys. This gives a pleasing undulating landscape, locally known as The Dumbles. These areas provide a habitat for Bluebell, yellow archangel, ramsons, dog’s mercury and sweet woodruff.

Two ancient Dumbles of the area are Halloughton Dumble and Westhorpe Dumble.

A local pub, "The Dumbles", in the town takes its name from this word.

It is interesting that, in Zambia and Zimbabwe, the name for an intermittent, plateau-bound stream valley is Dambo. A possible link with this word would be interesting to speculate on, and would be best established by a historical search of the age of the word dumble.

Other uses

• Alexander Dumble is the American builder of Dumble boutique guitar amplifiers. Dumbles are expensive, rare and, for some, highly desirable. Famous users include Jazz Guitarist Larry Carlton and blues, rock, Latin fusion guitarist Carlos Santana. for an article on the amplifier maker, click on: Dumble Amplifiers.
• The surname Dumble is believed to be of Norman origin and a corruption of the name Donville, a village in Normandy, brought to England by followers of William the Conqueror who came from there.