Village brochure shown up by historical howler (From Watford Observer)

Village brochure shown up by historical howler

8:00am Saturday 4th November 2006 in

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A NEWLY-PUBLISHED glossy brochure promoting the village of Wheathampstead contains a glaring historical error.

The brochure, produced by the district council, gives an overview of the village's history, mentioning Devil's Dyke, an ancient earthwork.

It reads: "Devil's Dyke, which dates back to 54BC, was the capital of the powerful Catevallauni tribe and the site of an epic battle between Anglo-Saxons and Romans."

Village postmaster Al Patel said: "There's about 600 years between that and the Anglo-Saxons."

Wheathampstead was indeed the site of a battle in 54BC involving a Roman army led by Julius Caesar, but his opponents, the Catevallauni, were not Anglo-Saxons but Celts.

Anglo-Saxon is a collective term describing the Germanic tribes who invaded Britain in the 5th and 6th Centuries AD, and whose language evolved into English.

The Celts, whose language is related to Welsh, were conquered by the Romans before living under occupation, but fled from the Anglo-Saxons into northern and western Britain.

Council cabinet member Chris Oxley, who represents the village, said: "It is a sin we will have to live with.

"It is unfortunate, but the brochure is very very good.

"Local people have put a huge amount of work in."

Businesses which want to be promoted in the brochure should call Ian Begg of the Brewhouse Gallery on 01582 833551.