Country names often fade into the background of a map and eventually become fixed and obvious. But the truth is, they’re anything but. These names are often rooted in ancient riddles, happy accidents, ...

They called the city Venta Belgarum (‘market town of the Belgae’) and gave it defensive walls as it grew in importance. The Saxons later knew it as the Venta fortress, Wintancaester. The High Street ...