On the subject of bogs, I have been browsing through the promotional material put out on the web by the developers of the Front Garden, the area which they have now branded Wichelstowe (see their website at www.wichelstowe.co.uk).

According to them, “the name Wichel is the original name of the area recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Stowe is an Old English word meaning a meeting place”. Oops - wrong on both counts I’m afraid.

The name as recorded in the Domesday Book was in fact Wichelestote – referring to the area now known as Westlecot. Where they got “stowe” from is anyone’s guess, and anyway it is generally thought to mean simply “place” or “holy place”.

So it would be more accurate if they said, “Wichelstowe is a completely made-up name which our marketing department came up with. And as the area is extremely boggy our marketing people also advised us to avoid any name with watery connotations”.

Here's an extract from a Taylor Woodrow presentation on the website:

WATER: From the results of public consultation and the survey we conducted, there are concerns with the use of water as a theme, unless it specifically relates to the canals - a sustainable use of water throughout the site.

Obviously the "concerns" are related to the difficulty of selling houses if the name of the development makes it sound like they are situated in a quagmire.

So, it's a shame, but I somehow don't think that the new development will have streets with appropriate names such as Marsh Mallows, Mireside, Puddleby Court, Rising D’Amp or Lower Waterbog.