Category: Histories of British towns, villages and cities

By Tim Lambert Early Eastbourne For centuries Eastbourne was a large village. The people lived by farming or sometimes by fishing. However, in 1232 Eastbourne was granted the right to hold markets and fairs. (In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year and they attracted buyers and… Continue reading A History of Eastbourne

By Tim Lambert The Origin of Eastleigh Eastleigh is a railway town in Hampshire but there was a village called East leah as long ago as the year 932. Leah was a Saxon word meaning a clearing in a forest. The little hamlets of Eastley and Barton continued to exist through the centuries until 1838.… Continue reading A History of Eastleigh

By Tim Lambert Edinburgh in the Middle Ages Edinburgh began as a fort. Castle Rock is an easily defended position so from the earliest times it was the site of a fort. In the 7th century, the English captured this part of Scotland and called this place Eiden’s burgh (burgh is an old word for… Continue reading A History of Edinburgh

By Tim Lambert Early Emsworth Emsworth began as a small Saxon village. At first, it was linked to the more important settlement of Warblington nearby. People from Emsworth worshiped in St Peter’s Chapel or the church at Warblington. However, Emsworth was not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. It was probably too small to… Continue reading A History of Emsworth

By Tim Lambert Early Enderby Enderby is a village in Leicestershire located 5 miles Southwest of Leicester. Archaeologists have found evidence of Iron Age (Pre-Roman) settlers on the site of Enderby. From the 1st century AD to the 5th century, the Romans ruled Britain and they made a small cemetery at Enderby (there may have… Continue reading A History of Enderby

By Tim Lambert Roman Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum) Exeter began as a Roman town. The Romans arrived in the Southwest about 50 AD they built a wooden fort on a hill near the river Exe at the lowest point where it could be easily crossed. (Exe is derived from a Celtic word meaning ‘the water’). However,… Continue reading A History of Exeter

By Tim Lambert Falmouth in the 17th and 18th centuries 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. Falmouth… Continue reading A History of Falmouth

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

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

By Tim Lambert Early Fratton In the 6th century, the Saxons landed on Portsea Island. At that time most of it was marshy but the Saxons built a settlement in the middle of the island. It was called Frodda ing tun, which means the tun (farm or village) belonging to Frodda. In time the name… Continue reading A History of Fratton, Portsmouth