Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

A small town to the north of St Albans in Hertfordshire, Wheathampstead has a population of over 6,000 and is basically little more than a large village. The history of Wheathampstead goes back to the centuries BC, when there were settlements established by a tribe known as the Belgae. Evidence found in an area known as Devil’s Dyke provided proof of these early settlements. Wheathampstead was later mentioned in the Domesday Book (1089), when it was referred to as Watamestede. Though there may have been a church in the town before the Normans arrived, the earliest surviving construction is part of the church of  St Helens which dates from around 1280. Right up until 1859 Wheathampstead was part of the same rectory as another Hertfordshire town, Harpenden. Present day Wheathampstead is within the district of St Albans. Map of Wheathampstead.