By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Grace Cross Early Hayling Island At the time of the Domesday Book (1086), Hayling Island probably had a population of around 300. The Domesday Book also mentions a salt pan where salt was made. Making salt from seawater was an industry on Hayling Island for centuries. So were mackerel fishing,… Continue reading A History of Hayling Island
A History of Hereford
By Tim Lambert Saxon Hereford Hereford means the Ford used by the army. The Saxons arrived in this part of England in the 7th century and a settlement grew up at the ford. In 676 AD it was made the seat of a bishop. By 700 AD Hereford had grown into a town. In 760… Continue reading A History of Hereford
A History of Hinckley
By Tim Lambert Hinckley in the Middle Ages Hinckley began as a Saxon settlement. It was probably called Hinca’s Leah (a Leah was a clearing in a wood). By the time of the Domesday Book (1086), Hinckley was quite a large village with a population of perhaps 300. It would seem tiny to us but… Continue reading A History of Hinckley
A History of Hoddesdon
By Tim Lambert Early Hoddesdon The history of Hoddesdon began in Anglo-Saxon times. Hoddesdon began as a Saxon village. Its name was probably Hodda’s dun, which means Hodda’s Hill. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Hoddesdon was a large village with a population of between 300 and 350. To us, it would… Continue reading A History of Hoddesdon
A History of Hornchurch
By Tim Lambert Early Hornchurch Hornchurch began as a small village in Essex. It was not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 but there might have been a tiny hamlet at Hornchurch at that time. Certainly, a village grew up at Hornchurch by the middle of the 12th century. By about 1163 a church… Continue reading A History of Hornchurch
A History of Horndean
By Tim Lambert Early Horndean Horndean began as a little Saxon village. Its name may be a corruption of the Saxon words Hearman denu meaning dormouse valley. Horndean stood in a great forest that stretched from the border of Hampshire to Winchester. It was called the Forest of Bere. A track led through the forest… Continue reading A History of Horndean
A History of Horsham
By Tim Lambert Horsham in the Middle Ages Horsham began as a Saxon village. Ham is the Saxon word for a village. No one is quite sure where the first part of the place name comes from. Perhaps this ‘ham’ was famous for horses. Or maybe it belonged to a man named Horsa. Horsham is… Continue reading A History of Horsham
A History of Hull
By Tim Lambert Hull in the Middle Ages The town of Hull was founded late in the 12th century. The monks of Meaux Abbey needed a port where the wool from their estates could be exported. They chose a place at the junction of the rivers, Hull and Humber, to build a quay. The exact… Continue reading A History of Hull
A History of Ilchester
By Tim Lambert Roman Ilchester Ilchester began as a Roman town. The Romans invaded England in 43 AD. When they subdued the Celtic tribe in this area, the Durotriges, they built a fort to guard a ford over the River Yeo. Soon they built a town on the site of the old Celtic settlement. It… Continue reading A History of Ilchester
A History of Bristol
By Tim Lambert Saxon Bristol Bristol began life as a village called Brigg stow, which means the meeting place at the bridge in the old Saxon language. At some point, a wooden bridge was erected across the Avon. (Avon is a Celtic word meaning ‘water’). The bridge was used as a meeting place and a… Continue reading A History of Bristol