By Tim Lambert Early Newark on Trent Newark began as a fortified Anglo-Saxon settlement. Its name comes from Old English words meaning “new fort”. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, it may have had a population of about 350. By the standards of the time, it was a large village. After 1092,… Continue reading A History of Newark on Trent
How People Find Rooms Now: A Look at the Leading Platforms Supporting Local Living
Finding a room today is less about posters in a café window and more about navigating a crowded digital marketplace. Whether you’re a landlord filling a vacancy, a homeowner renting out a spare room, or a tenant searching for the right living situation, the platforms you choose matter. Some focus on volume, others on safety,… Continue reading How People Find Rooms Now: A Look at the Leading Platforms Supporting Local Living
The short city break through history
Travellers have always had layovers, they just did not call them that. From Roman messengers pausing at roadside stations to merchants breaking journeys along trade routes, history is full of forced stops that turned into unexpected city time. Today the same instinct shows up when flyers try to squeeze meaning out of a long connection… Continue reading The short city break through history
A History of Axminster
By Tim Lambert Early Axminster Axminster began as a Celtic settlement about 300 BC. However, in 43 AD, the Romans invaded Britain. The Romans built a fort at Woodbury Farm near Axminster. There was also a small town in Roman times. It’s believed the Roman settlement was called Moridunum. However, modern Axminster began as a… Continue reading A History of Axminster
How Fire Changed the Course of Human History
Fire is one of the most transformative discoveries in human history. Long before the rise of agriculture, cities, or written language, the ability to control fire reshaped how early humans lived, survived, and evolved. From protection and warmth to cooking, technology, and social development, fire fundamentally altered the trajectory of human civilization. Understanding how fire… Continue reading How Fire Changed the Course of Human History
Martha Place
By Tim Lambert Martha Place was the first woman to be executed by electric chair. She murdered her stepmother and attempted to murder her husband. Martha was born on 8 September 1849 in New Jersey, USA. Her birth name was Martha Garrettson. Martha married a man named Wesley Savacool and they had a son. But… Continue reading Martha Place
A History of Devizes
By Tim Lambert Devizes in the Middle Ages In 1080, a motte and bailey castle was built at Devizes. Because the castle was built where 3 manors met, it was called Castrum ad divisas, Latin for castle at the boundaries. The name later changed to Devizes. The original wooden castle burned down in the early… Continue reading A History of Devizes
A History of Tiverton
By Tim Lambert Medieval Tiverton Tiverton began as a Saxon village. Its name is derived from the words twy ford tun, meaning settlement by the two fords. Tiverton was first mentioned in a document in 885. At the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086, it probably had a population of about 400. By the standards… Continue reading A History of Tiverton
A History of Barnstaple
By Tim Lambert Where does the name Barnstaple come from? The ‘staple’ is derived from the Old English stapol word meaning post. The first part of its name probably comes from the word bearde, meaning battle axe. It’s possible the post was used as a meeting place for people in North Devon. It’s often claimed… Continue reading A History of Barnstaple
The Mathematical Curiosity That Turned Into Roulette
Blaise Pascal never intended to design a centerpiece for modern entertainment. The 17th-century French mathematician was consumed by the laws of physics and the impossible dream of perpetual motion. His experiments involved a frictionless wheel meant to spin indefinitely without external energy. While the physics failed, the mechanism remained. This failed scientific apparatus evolved into… Continue reading The Mathematical Curiosity That Turned Into Roulette