By Tim Lambert Roman Portchester Portchester is, of course, famous for its castle. It began when the Romans built a fort in the late 3rd century (the exact date is unknown). At that time fierce Saxons from Germany were attacking Eastern and Southern England and the Romans built a chain of coastal forts to stop… Continue reading A History of Portchester
Category: Histories of British towns, villages and cities
A History of Portsea, Portsmouth
By Tim Lambert Early Portsea The area of Portsmouth we call Portsea was once called Portsmouth Common. Its name was changed in 1792. Firstly where does the name Portsea come from? It comes from two words, the Latin word Portus, which means harbour, and the Saxon word eg (pronounced ‘ee’) which means island. Portsea Island… Continue reading A History of Portsea, Portsmouth
A History of Portsmouth
By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Vanessa Wood Portsmouth in the Middle Ages Portsmouth was founded about 1180 when a merchant called Jean De Gisors founded a little town in the South-West corner of Portsea Island. Jean De Gisors was a merchant who owned a fleet of ships. He was also a landowner who owned land… Continue reading A History of Portsmouth
A History of Preston
By Tim Lambert Preston in the Middle Ages Preston began as a village. It was called Priest’s tun, which means a priest’s farm or estate. In the 12th century, it grew into a town. This was partly because of its position. Firstly Preston is on a river. In those days it was much cheaper to… Continue reading A History of Preston
A History of Purbrook
By Tim Lambert Early Widley and Purbrook A Roman road from Chichester to Clausentum (Southampton) went through the site of Purbrook. However, the modern village of Widley was founded by the Saxons. A settlement at Purbrook grew up in the 18th century. Until the 19th century, a great forest stretched across Southeast Hampshire. On the… Continue reading A History of Purbrook
A History of Reading, Berkshire
By Tim Lambert Saxon Reading Reading began life as a Saxon settlement. Reading was originally called Reada ingas, which means the people of Reada. Reada was a Saxon leader who settled in the area with his tribe in the 6th century. The early settlement was probably in the area of St Marys Butts. (In the… Continue reading A History of Reading, Berkshire
A History of Redruth
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 Reigate
By Tim Lambert Early Reigate The town of Reigate in Surrey began as a Saxon village. At the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086 it probably had a population of about 350. By the standards of the time it was quite a large settlement. It had two watermills to grind grain to flour. In… Continue reading A History of Reigate
A History of Romsey
By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Gabriella Bowe-Peckham 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… Continue reading A History of Romsey
A History of Rotherham
By Tim Lambert Early Rotherham In the 1st century AD, the Romans built a fort by the river Rother. In time civilians moved nearby and a little town grew up. (The soldiers provided a market for the townspeople’s goods). However, in 407 AD, the Roman army left Britain. Afterward, Roman civilization broke down and Roman… Continue reading A History of Rotherham