Category: Histories of British towns, villages and cities

By Tim Lambert Early Dumfries The Scottish king William the Lion made Dumfries a Royal Burgh in 1186. In the late 12th century a castle was built in Dumfries but it was demolished in the early 14th century. In 1395 Robert III gave Dumfries a charter. (In the Middle Ages a charter was a document… Continue reading A History of Dumfries

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Donna Shaw Early Dunblane The Scottish town of Dunblane probably takes its name from the words Dun Blane, meaning Blane’s fort. Blane was a Scottish saint who lived in the 6th century and who founded a monastery at Dunblane. Most of Dunblane Cathedral was built during the 13th century. The… Continue reading A History of Dunblane

By Tim Lambert Dundee in the Middle Ages Dundee grew up as a small port in the 11th and 12th centuries. Its name may be derived from the words Dun Diagh (Dun meant fort). In 1191 King William gave Dundee a charter. That was a document granting the townspeople certain rights. It gave them the… Continue reading A History of Dundee

By Tim Lambert Roman Dunstable Dunstable began as a Roman town. Long before the Romans came to Britain there was a track called the Icknield Way, which crossed the middle of England. In the 2nd century, the Romans built a road called Watling Street, which crossed Icknield Way at the point where Dunstable stands today.… Continue reading A History of Dunstable

By Tim Lambert Early Dunster Dunster began as a Saxon village. Its name means Dun’s or Dunn’s Torre or Craggy Hill. We don’t know who Dun or Dunn was but he must have been a powerful Saxon. A Norman named William de Mohun built a castle at Dunster. At first, it was made of wood… Continue reading A History of Dunster

By Tim Lambert Anglo-Saxon Durham Durham was founded by monks. A man named Cuthbert was once Bishop of Lindisfarne. After he died in 687 people claimed that miracles took place at his grave (people believed that dead bodies could work miracles). In 698 his body was exhumed and they discovered that it had not decomposed.… Continue reading A History of Durham

By Tim Lambert In Memory of Maartje Tamboezer East and West Horsely are two charming villages in the English county of Surry. West Horsley is the smaller of the two. The History of West Horsley Horsley began as an Anglo-Saxon village. It’s believed the name comes from two Old English words, hros, meaning horse and… Continue reading A History of East And West Horsley

Tim Lambert Early East Grinstead East Grinstead began as a Saxon village. Its name means green place. By the time of the Domesday Book (1086), it was quite a large village. In the 13th century, East Grinstead became a town. In 1247 East Grinstead was given a charter (a document granting the people certain rights).… Continue reading A History of East Grinstead

By Tim Lambert Early East Meon In the 6th century AD, a people called the Meon from Denmark invaded central Hampshire. They settled in central Hampshire, and they gave the River Meon its name. They also founded the village of East Meon. By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, the manor of East… Continue reading A History of East Meon

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