By Tim Lambert Redruth in the Middle Ages The name Redruth is derived from words meaning ‘red ford’. Until the 14th century, Redruth was only a village. Then in 1334, the king granted the right to hold markets and fairs. (In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets but they were held only once a… Continue reading A History of Redruth
A History of Romsey
By Tim Lambert Romsey in the Middle Ages Dedicated to Gabriella Bowe-Peckham Romsey is a market town in Hampshire, in Southern England. Romsey began as a Saxon village. The place name Romsey is probably a corruption of Rum’s eg, which means Rum’s area of dry land surrounded by marsh. In 907 AD, a Benedictine abbey… Continue reading A History of Romsey
A History of Rowlands Castle
By Tim Lambert Early Rowlands Castle The Romans made brick and tiles at Rowlands Castle because suitable clay was available. They also made pottery. After the Romans came the Saxons. Saxon graves from the 7th century have been found near Stansted House. Through the centuries Rowland Castle was just a small and quiet village on… Continue reading A History of Rowlands Castle
A History of Salisbury
By Tim Lambert Saxon Salisbury The story of Salisbury began 2,500 years ago when an iron age fort was built on Salisbury Hill about 2 miles north of the modern town center. In the 6th century, the Saxons invaded Wiltshire. In 552 Saxons and Celts fought a battle at Salisbury Hill. The Celts were defeated… Continue reading A History of Salisbury
A History of Scarborough
By Tim Lambert The Romans built a signalling station at Scarborough around 370 AD. At that time Saxons from Germany were raiding eastern England. If their fleet was sighted off Scarborough signal torches were lighted to warn the Roman armed forces. Scarborough in the Middle Ages However, it is believed that the Danes founded the… Continue reading A History of Scarborough
A History of Selsey
By Tim Lambert Early Selsey Selsey is a seaside town in West Sussex about 7 miles south of Chichester. It was founded by the Saxons. In the 6th century, Saxons led by Aella landed near Pevensey. They carved out a kingdom in southern England called Sussex, the kingdom of the South Saxons. They founded a… Continue reading A History of Selsey
A History of Shaftesbury
By Tim Lambert Early Shaftesbury The village of Shaftesbury in Dorset was founded by the Saxons. The second part of its name is derived from the Saxon word burh, which meant a fortified settlement. In the late 9th century Alfred the Great created a network of fortified towns across his kingdom. In the event of… Continue reading A History of Shaftesbury
A History of Shepton Mallet
By Tim Lambert Early Shepton Mallet There was a Bronze Age settlement on the site of the village of Shepton Mallet. In 1995 the remains of Bronze Age homes and pottery were found in Shepton Mallet. Furthermore, Maesbury Ring, an Iron Age hill fort stands north of the town. Later Shepton Mallet lay just west… Continue reading A History of Shepton Mallet
A History of Ipswich
By Tim Lambert Anglo-Saxon Ipswich Ipswich started as a small trading settlement in the early 7th century. There are 2 theories about how Ipswich got its name. It may have been Gippa’s wic (wic is an old word meaning port). Or it may have been Gip’s wic (gip meant corner, in this case, the corner… Continue reading A History of Ipswich
A History of Keresley
By Tim Lambert Keresley began as a Saxon village. The Saxon word leah meant a clearing in a wood. The first part of the name Keresley may be a corruption of watercress. Or it may be a corruption of a man’s name. The original settlement was at Keresley Green but Keresley Heath grew up in… Continue reading A History of Keresley