Category: Histories of British towns, villages and cities

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to John Robinson ROMAN BISHOP’S STORTFORD Bishop’s Stortford began as a Roman settlement. It was on Stane Street, a major Roman road between London and Colchester. The many travelers through the area caused the small town to grow. In those days of slow communications, it would have taken days to travel… Continue reading A Brief History of Bishop’s Stortford

By Tim Lambert For centuries the village of Abbotsbury in Dorset was dominated by the Abbey. Orc the steward of King Canute and his wife Thola founded Abbotsbury Abbey in the 11th century. In time a thriving settlement grew up by the abbey. In the 13th century King Edward I granted the people of Abbotsbury… Continue reading A History of Abbotsbury

By Tim Lambert Aberdeen in the Middle Ages The name Aberdeen probably comes from the word aber (meaning mouth of the river) Don. Aberdeen was probably founded by the 8th century AD as a fishing settlement. However, by the early 12th century Aberdeen had grown into a town. One sign of this came in 1136… Continue reading A History of Aberdeen

By Tim Lambert Early Alton There was a Roman settlement at Neatham, near Alton in Hampshire. It is believed it was called Vindomis. However, Alton began as a Saxon village. Its name may be derived from Saxon words meaning the farmstead or village by the spring. Alton first appeared in national history in July 1101.… Continue reading A History of Alton

By Tim Lambert Saxon Amesbury According to an old legend, Amesbury was founded by a man named Ambrosius Aurelianus, who was King Arthur’s uncle. In reality, Amesbury takes its name from a Celtic hill fort. It was built sometime before Christ. The fort is called Vespasian’s Camp though, in fact, it has nothing to do… Continue reading A History of Amesbury

By Tim Lambert Andover in the Middle Ages Andover probably gets its name from the old words on dubr, which means ash (tree) stream. Andover began as a Saxon village. Andover first appears in history in 950 AD when the king built a royal hunting lodge there. Then in the year 962, another king called… Continue reading A History of Andover

By Tim Lambert Early Arundel Arundel began as a Saxon village. It has been suggested that its name is derived from the Norman-French word for swallow, Arondel. A more likely explanation is that is a corruption of the Saxon words harhune dell meaning horehound (a type of plant) valley. At any rate by the time… Continue reading A History of Arundel

By Tim Lambert Early Ashford Ashford in Kent began as a Saxon village but in the early 13th century it grew into a small market town. In 1243 Ashford was given a charter. (A document granting the people certain rights). The charter was renewed in 1348 and 1466. As well as weekly markets Ashford was… Continue reading A History of Ashford

By Tim Lambert Aylesbury in the Middle Ages Aylesbury started as a Saxon settlement called Aegel’s burgh. Burgh is a Saxon word meaning fort or fortified settlement. It is possible Saxon Aylesbury had a ditch and earth rampart with a wooden palisade on top. By the 11th century, Aylesbury had a mint and probably had… Continue reading A History of Aylesbury

By Tim Lambert Ayr in the Middle Ages In 1197 a castle was built by the River Ayr. Shortly afterward, in 1205, King William the Lion created a burgh at Ayr. He laid out streets and set aside plots of land for building houses. William also started a market at Ayr. (In those days there… Continue reading A History of Ayr