E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Crawley.
Crooked as Crawley (or) Crawley brook, a river in Bedfordshire. That part called the brook, which runs into the Ouse, is so crooked that a boat would have to go eighty miles in order to make a progress direct of eighteen. (Fuller: Worthies.)
