Category: Histories of British towns, villages and cities

By Tim Lambert Early Winkleigh Winkleigh gets its name from two Saxon words. The word wincel meant a corner and the word Leah meant a clearing in a forest. So it was wincel Leah the corner clearing. William the Conqueror gave the manor of Winkleigh to his wife Matilda. At the time of the Domesday… Continue reading A History of Winkleigh

By Tim Lambert Medieval Wisbech The town of Wisbech began as a village. Its name may mean the bank (bec) by the marshy meadow (Wisc). By the time of the Domesday Book (1086), Wisbech was a large village. It probably had a population of about 350. By the standards of the time, Wisbech was quite… Continue reading A History of Wisbech

By Tim Lambert Early Wolverhampton The story of Wolverhampton begins in 985 when a Saxon lady named Wulfruna was given land at Heanton. In 994 she founded a minster church (a church with a monastery attached). The settlement by the monastery grew larger and in time its name changed to Wulfruna’s Heanton and later to… Continue reading A History of Wolverhampton

By Tim Lambert Roman Worcester The city of Worcester was founded by the Romans about 50 AD. It stood on the Roman road from Wroxeter to Gloucester so a considerable amount of traffic passed through. Soon Worcester was a flourishing little town. In Roman Worcester, there were many craftsmen such as blacksmiths, carpenters, bakers, and… Continue reading A History of Worcester

By Tim Lambert Early Worthing Worthing began as a Saxon village. It may have been called Worth or Wurtha ingas which means the settlement (belonging to) the people of Worth or Wurtha. Whatever the origin of its name for centuries Worthing was just a hamlet where farmers lived. However, in the 18th century, its fortunes… Continue reading A History of Worthing

By Tim Lambert Wrexham in the Middle Ages In the 1990s evidence was discovered of a small Roman settlement at Wrexham. However, the modern town grew up in the Middle Ages. Wrexham was first mentioned in writing in the 12th century. At the beginning of the 13th century, the Lord of the Manor gave some… Continue reading A History of Wrexham

By Tim Lambert Yeovil in the Middle Ages Yeovil was founded in the 8th century after the Saxons conquered this part of Somerset. What does the name Yeovil Mean? It is believed to be a corruption of the Celtic word Gifl, meaning forked river. In time the village of Yeovil grew into a little town.… Continue reading A History of Yeovil

By Tim Lambert Roman York The Romans founded the city of York. They invaded Yorkshire in 71 AD and built a fort between the rivers Ouse and Foss. By the mid 2nd century a small town grew up by the fort. Craftsmen and merchants came to live there because the soldiers in the fort provided… Continue reading A History of York

By Tim Lambert Prehistoric Yorkshire In 7,000 BC Yorkshire would look quite different from what it does today. In those days it was covered in thick forest. At that time the first humans arrived. They were stone age hunters and gatherers. They hunted the abundant wildlife in Yorkshire such as deer and boar. Then in… Continue reading A History of Yorkshire

By Tim Lambert The Beginning of Leigh Park In 1944 Portsmouth City Council bought the Leigh Park Estate near Havant. They planned to build a new overspill community there. Altogether the council bought 1,670 acres and work on building Leigh Park began in 1947 when the mayor of Portsmouth operated a digger and dug the… Continue reading Leigh Park History