Local Histories

By Tim Lambert 871 The Danes capture the settlement at Reading 1006 The Danes burn Reading 1086 Reading has a population of about 600 1125 Henry I builds Reading Abbey 1320 Reading has a population of around 1,300 1500 Making cloth is the main industry in Reading 1539 Henry VIII closes Reading Abbey 1550 Reading… Continue reading A Timeline of Reading, Berkshire

By Tim Lambert c. 70 The Romans build a town on the site of Bitterne 407 The Roman army leaves Britain. Afterwards, Roman towns are abandoned 690-700 The Saxon King Ine builds a new town on the site of St Mary’s Church c. 950 The town declines as the Itchen silts up and it is… Continue reading A Timeline of Southampton

By Tim Lambert Late 9th Century Alfred the Great creates a fortified settlement at Oxford 911 Oxford is first mentioned in writing. It is a small but flourishing market town. 1009 The Danes burn Oxford 1018 A conference is held at Oxford following a dispute over who is king of England 1072 The Normans build… Continue reading A Timeline of Oxford

By Tim Lambert 522 The Saxons and the Celts fight a battle at Salisbury Hill c. 1003 The Saxons start a settlement on Salisbury Hill 1069 The Saxons Normans build a fort nearby 1075 The Bishop moves his seat to the settlement 1217 The Bishop moves his seat to land south of the hill and… Continue reading A Timeline of Salisbury

By Tim Lambert 10th Century Norwich is a small town and inland port with its own mint 1004 The Danes sack and burn Norwich 1086 Norwich has a population of about 6,000 1094 The bishop moves his seat from Thetford to Norwich 1194 Norwich is given a charter (a document granting the people certain rights)… Continue reading A Timeline of Norwich

By Tim Lambert 6th Century The Saxons found a village in Nottingham Late 9th Century The Danes capture the North and East of England. They make Nottingham into a fortified settlement. 920 The English recapture Nottingham. It grows into a busy market town with its own mint. 1067 The Normans build a fort at Nottingham… Continue reading A Timeline of Nottingham

By Tim Lambert 1180 Jean de Gisors founds a town at Portsmouth 1185 A parish church is built 1194 The king grants Portsmouth a charter (a document giving the townspeople certain rights) 1212 The Domus Dei (House of God) is built 1338 The French burn Portsmouth 1369 The French burn Portsmouth again 1377 The French… Continue reading A Timeline of Portsmouth

By Tim Lambert 80 The Romans build a wooden fort on the site of Manchester 200 The wooden fort is replaced by a stone one. A little town has grown up by the fort. 407 The Roman army leaves Britain and Roman forts and towns are abandoned 1227 Manchester is granted an annual fair. The… Continue reading A Timeline of Manchester

By Tim Lambert 50 The Romans build a fort on the site of Exeter 75 The Romans move on but a town is built on the site of the fort c. 150 The Romans build stone walls around Exeter 407 The Roman army leaves Britain. Roman civilisation collapses and towns are abandoned. 680 The Saxons… Continue reading A Timeline of Exeter