The name Evenlode is modern; until the late 1890s the river was called the River Blade, hence the name of Bladon, even though strictly Bladon is on the River Glyme, a tributary;[5][6] the Ordnance Survey map of 1884 already uses the name Evenlode.[7]
The river is largely privately owned, used for fishing and other leisure activities. The Environment Agency has undertaken restoration work, as of 2008, to recover from the effects of excessive dredging.[9] Powered craft are not allowed on the river.[6]Hilaire Belloc commemorated the river in some of his poetry.[10]