Category: Histories of British towns, villages and cities

By Tim Lambert Early Cheltenham Cheltenham Spa began as a Saxon village. At the time of the Domesday Book (1086), it was a small village with a population of less than 200. However, Cheltenham became a focal point for the surrounding villages. In 1226 King Henry III gave the people of Cheltenham the right to… Continue reading A History of Cheltenham

By Tim Lambert Roman Chester Chester began when the Romans built a fort next to the River Dee about 75 AD. The Roman fort was called Deva. At first, the fort was made of wood. It had a ditch outside and an earth embankment with a wooden palisade on top. At the beginning of the… Continue reading A History of Chester

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to John Harvey The Roman Fort Chesterfield began as a Roman fort, which was built around 70 AD. However, by the early 2nd century the area was pacified and the Romans moved on. The old fort was abandoned. However, the Roman fort gave its name to Chesterfield. However, by the 10th… Continue reading A History of Chesterfield

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Belinda Russell Roman Chichester In 43 AD the Romans invaded Britain and about 44 AD they built a fort on the site of Chichester. It was by a source of water (the river Lavant) and close to a harbor so supplies could be brought by ship from France. Soon the… Continue reading A History of Chichester

By Tim Lambert Early Chippenham Chippenham was first recorded in 853 when the sister of Prince Alfred (the future King Alfred of Wessex) got married there. In 878 the Danes captured Chippenham. But King Alfred escaped. He rallied his men and defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington. At the time of the Domesday… Continue reading A History of Chippenham

By Tim Lambert Saxon Christchurch Christchurch began as a Saxon village. Its original name was Tweoxneam, which means between 2 rivers. The Saxon settlement stood on a triangular piece of land between the rivers. Early in the 10th century, Christchurch was made a burgh or fortified settlement. (Alfred the Great created a network of fortified… Continue reading A History of Christchurch England

By Tim Lambert Early Chulmleigh Chulmleigh began as a Saxon village. (The Saxons conquered Devon in the early 9th century). Its name means Coelmund’s leah. (Leah was the Saxon word for a clearing in a forest). In the 13th century, King Henry III gave Chulmleigh a charter (a document granting the villagers certain rights). As… Continue reading A History of Chulmleigh

By Tim Lambert Roman Cirencester The Romans invaded England in 43 AD. The Celtic tribe in this area, the Dobunni put up little resistance. Nevertheless, the Romans built a fort on the site of Cirencester. Soon a civilian settlement grew up nearby. The soldiers in the fort provided a ready market for goods made by… Continue reading A History of Cirencester

By Tim Lambert Early Clanfield Clanfield began as a small settlement in the Middle Ages. Its name was claen feld. The Saxon word ‘feld’ did not mean field in the modern sense, it meant an area of open land. The word ‘claen’ meant cleared i.e. cleared of shrubs and other plants. For centuries the people… Continue reading A History of Clanfield

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Lucinda Wilde Early Clapham The Roman road called Stane Street, which ran from London to Chichester went through the area where Clapham now stands. However, Clapham began as a Saxon village. Its name was originally clopp ham, which meant the village (ham) by the short hill (clopp). At the time… Continue reading A history of Clapham