Category: Histories of British towns, villages and cities

By Tim Lambert Early Birkenhead Birkenhead was once the headland with birch trees. It is not known exactly when the first settlement was founded at Birkenhead but in the mid-12th century, a Benedictine Priory was built there. At some point, a little hamlet grew up nearby and in 1277 King Edward I stayed at Birkenhead.… Continue reading A History of Birkenhead

By Tim Lambert Birmingham in the Middle Ages Birmingham is the second-largest city in England. It began as an Anglo-Saxon village. In the early 12th century it grew into a town. In 1166 the King gave the Lord of the Manor, Peter De Birmingham, the right to hold a weekly market at Birmingham. Once a… Continue reading A History of Birmingham

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 travellers 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 History of Bishop’s Stortford

By Tim Lambert Early Bishops Waltham Bishops Waltham began as a Saxon village. The name Bishops Waltham is derived from the words Wald meaning wooded area and ham meaning settlement. It became known as Bishops Waltham after 904 when the king gave the manor to the Bishop of Winchester. A church was built in Bishops… Continue reading A History of Bishops Waltham

By Tim Lambert Early Blaby Like many settlements in Leicestershire, Blaby has a Danish name, as the Danes settled the area in the 9th century. It was once Blar by, which means Blar’s village. At the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086, Blaby was a typical village with a population of less than 150.… Continue reading A History of Blaby

By Tim Lambert Early Blackburn In the Middle Ages Lancashire was a poor area with few towns. At that time Blackburn was just a village. However, in the 16th century, Blackburn grew into a small market town. As well as weekly markets it also had annual fairs (in those days fairs were like markets but… Continue reading A History of Blackburn

By Tim Lambert Early Blackpool For centuries Blackpool was a hamlet by the sea. Then during the 18th century, it became fashionable for the well-to-do to travel to the seaside during the Summer. (In those days people believed that bathing in seawater could cure diseases). Visitors came to Blackpool from the middle of the 18th… Continue reading A History of Blackpool

By Tim Lambert Early Blandford Forum Blandford Forum began as a Saxon settlement by the River Stour. (It’s believed the river’s name is derived from a Saxon word meaning strong or mighty). At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, Blandford was called Blaneford. It’s not certain where the ‘Blane’ part of the name… Continue reading A History of Blandford Forum

By Tim Lambert Blendworth is a hamlet in Hampshire. It’s believed it was originally called Blaenda’s worth. A worth was an enclosure or farmstead. But the original settlement at Blendworth was slightly east of the present one. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Blendworth was part of the manor of Chalton. (England… Continue reading A History of Blendworth

By Tim Lambert Early Boarhunt The little village of Boarhunt in Hampshire does not get its name from boars or hunting! It is a corruption of burh funta, which meant the funta, (stream) by the fort (burh). At the time of the Domesday Book Boarhunt was a little village although it did have 2 watermills… Continue reading A History of Boarhunt