By Tim Lambert Falmouth in the 17th Century and 18th Century Penryn is a much older town than Falmouth. It has been a market town since the 13th century. The story of Falmouth begins in the 17th century. A man named Sir John Killigrew created a busy little town and port at Falmouth in 1613.… Continue reading A History of Falmouth
A History of Fareham
By Tim Lambert Fareham in the Middle Ages Fareham began as a Saxon village. It was called Ferne Ham. The Saxon word ham meant a village or settlement so it was the village by the ferns. The original settlement was on a hill near where the church of St Peter and St Paul now stands.… Continue reading A History of Fareham
A History of Farnham
By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Helen St John-Mosse Early Farnham There was a Roman settlement on the site of Farnham. Pottery kilns were discovered in the 20th century so an industry existed there. The remains of a Roman villa and bath were also found, on the site of Roman Way. However, the modern town of… Continue reading A History of Farnham
A History of Frome
By Tim Lambert Saxon Frome Frome began as a Saxon village. The name Frome is believed to come from a Celtic river name fram, meaning, brisk or fair. The history of Frome begins in the 7th century AD. About 685 the Abbot of Malmesbury, St Aldhelm, founded a monastery there. Soon a settlement grew up… Continue reading A History of Frome
A History of Glastonbury
By Tim Lambert The Glastonbury Myths There are many legends about Glastonbury so let us start with these. St Dunstan was Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey between 940 and 960. He then became Archbishop of Canterbury and he was buried when he died. In 1188 the monks of Glastonbury abbey produced a body, which they claimed… Continue reading A History of Glastonbury
A History of Gloucester
By Tim Lambert Roman Gloucester Gloucester began as a Roman town. It lies at the first point where the river Severn can be easily crossed so it was a natural place to build a town. About 49 AD the Romans built a fort to guard the river crossing at Kingsholm. In 64 AD they built… Continue reading A History of Gloucester
A History of Godalming
By Tim Lambert Godalming in the Middle Ages Godalming began as a Saxon village. By the time of the Domesday Book (1086), it was a flourishing community. Godalming may have had a population of around 400. It might seem tiny to us but by the standards of the time, Godalming was a large village. At… Continue reading A History of Godalming
A History of Gosport
By Tim Lambert Early Gosport Gosport was founded early in the 13th century. The name Gosport is probably a corruption of goose port, perhaps because wild geese gathered there. In the Middle Ages Gosport was only a small market town and port. It only had a few hundred inhabitants. Many of the men in Gosport… Continue reading A History of Gosport
A History of Grantham
By Tim Lambert Early Grantham Grantham began as an Anglo-Saxon village. The Anglo-Saxon word ‘ham’ meant village. The ‘Grant’ probably comes from somebody’s name. Maybe it was Granta’s ham. Anyway by the 11th century, the village of Grantham grew into a market town for the surrounding villages. (In those days there were no shops so… Continue reading A History of Grantham
A History of Great Yarmouth
By Tim Lambert Great Yarmouth in the Middle Ages Today Great Yarmouth is a famous seaside town but for centuries it was an important fishing port. Yarmouth was famous for herrings. Great Yarmouth was founded by the Angles. By the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086, it had grown into a little town with… Continue reading A History of Great Yarmouth