Wheathampstead
| Wheathampstead | |
| Hertfordshire | |
|---|---|
 High Street, Wheathampstead | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | TL1714 |
| Location: | 51°48’43"N, 0°17’35"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 6,058 ((2001)) |
| Post town: | St Albans |
| Postcode: | AL4 8 |
| Dialling code: | 01582 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | St Albans |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Hitchin and Harpenden |
| Website: | Wheathampstead Parish Council |
Wheathampstead is a village in the heart of rural Hertfordshire. It lies on the River Lea surrounded by fields, woods and outlying hamlets. It is however also a town with a history more ancient than that of St Albans to the south.
History
Around 50 BC the Belgic tribes moved into the area. In what became Wheathampstead they built a substantial oppidium, a fortified town, which survives now as a ring of earthworks at the eastern side of Wheathampstead known as "The Devil's Dyke". The Devil's Dyke is part of the remains of an ancient settlement of the Catuvellauni tribe and thought to have been the tribe's original capital.
The Catuvellaunian capital was moved to Verlamion in about 20 BC, which latter town the Romans would name Verulamium, which in turn gave rise to the modern St Albans. The Devil's Dyke is reputedly where Julius Caesar defeated Cassivellaunus in 54 BC, although this claim is disputed. Some historians suggest that the Dyke was part of the same defensive rampart as nearby Beech Bottom Dyke, which, if correct, would make the area one of the largest and most important British Iron Age settlements.
The name of Wheathampstead is Old English, recorded in 1060 as Hwæthamstede.[1] In that year Wheathampstead was given by Edward the Confessor to Westminster Abbey, and it must be assumed that St Helen's Church or a predecessor stood by that time, though it is very difficult to determine whether the present St Helen's Church contains any Anglo-Saxon work.
The village is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Watamestede. In the reign of Henry III, the original structure of the church was demolished, and the oldest portion of the present church, in the chancel, is assigned to the year 1280.[2]
Some historians have claimed[3] that in 1312 the barons who leagued against Edward II and his favourite Piers Gaveston, gathered their troops at Wheathampstead, and whilst there refused to receive emissaries from the Pope, although there seems to be no other documentary evidence of this.
Up until 1859, Wheathampstead and Harpenden were part of a single rectory. Before that date, several of the rectors of Wheathampstead-cum-Harpenden after 1238 went on to have unusually successful ecclesiastical careers. Richard Sampson, who held the position in the 16th century, was in 1523 appointed Lord President of Wales, and in 1543 consecrated Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. Richard Pate, another rector, was in 1554 consecrated Bishop of Worcester. Lambert Osbaldeston was also master of Westminster School, and became more famous later for a controversy with Archbishop Laud; having used libellous language he was, in 1639, deprived of his living and fined £5,000. Henry Killigrew, in 1661, was made Master of the Savoy. John Lambe, whose father mainly devoted his life to the alleviation of the sufferings of prisoners, was also a rector, and was made Chaplain in Ordinary to William and Mary. John Wheeldon (1773–1800) was the author of several works, and Queen Victoria's private tutor was also a former rector.
The village is also close to Nomansland common, and slightly further afield, St Albans.
Picture gallery
-
St Helen's Church, Wheathampstead -
River Lea in Wheathampstead
References
- ↑ Charter of King Edward to Westminster, 1060
- ↑ "The History of St. Helen's Church, Wheathampstead". http://www.wheathampstead.net/sthhisst.htm.
- ↑ Trokelowe, Annales (Rolls Ser.), 78.
Further reading
- Page, William (1908). A History of the County of Hertford, Volume 2. Victoria County History. pp. 294–314.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Wheathampstead) |