Category: Histories of British towns, villages and cities

By Tim Lambert Early Denmead Denmead began as a Saxon settlement. Its name was originally denu mead or meadow in a small valley. In Saxon times and for long afterward it was an isolated place that stood in the Forest of Bere, which stretched from the Sussex border to Winchester. Stoneacre is believed to be… Continue reading A History of Denmead

By Tim Lambert Roman Derby Derby began as a Roman fort. The Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD. Around 50 AD they built a fort west of the River Derwent on the site of Belper Road. Then, about 80 AD, they built a new fort on the east bank of the river. The Romans called… Continue reading A History of Derby

By Tim Lambert Devizes in the Middle Ages Devizes is a market town in Wiltshire. In 1080, a motte and bailey castle was built at Devizes. Because the castle was built where 3 manors met, it was called Castrum ad divisas, Latin for castle at the boundaries. The name later changed to Devizes. The original… Continue reading A History of Devizes

By Tim Lambert The Roman Fort at Doncaster The history of Doncaster began when the Romans built a fort in the area about 71 AD. The Romans called the fort Danum. However, in the 4th century Roman civilisation declined and the last Roman soldiers left Britain in 407 AD. After the Romans left a village… Continue reading A History of Doncaster

By Tim Lambert Roman Dorchester Dorchester was founded by the Romans. (Although the area was inhabited for thousands of years before they arrived. Stone age farmers erected the enclosure known as Maumbury Rings). The Romans invaded Southeast England in 43 AD and they quickly subdued the area we now call Dorset. By about 60 AD… Continue reading A History of Dorchester

By Tim Lambert Early Dorking Dorking began as a Saxon village. It’s name was probably Deorc ingas, which meant the people of Deorc. It’s not certain where the River Mole got its name but it may be from the Latin word ‘mola’ meaning mill because there were so many watermills along it in the Early… Continue reading A History of Dorking

By Tim Lambert Roman Dover Dover is the gateway to England. Because of its strategic position, Dover has always been an important port. In Roman times Dover was an important harbour. The Romans built a stone fort to protect it and a civilian settlement grew up nearby. It was called Dubris. In 1971 a Roman… Continue reading A History of Dover

By Tim Lambert In the 6th century AD, the Saxons landed in Hampshire and they founded a number of villages. One of them was called Dray tun. The Saxon word tun meant farm or settlement and dray meant drag. It is not certain what they dragged. Perhaps boats were dragged onto the shore. Farlington was… Continue reading A History of Drayton and Farlington

By Tim Lambert Early Droxford Before 2,000 BC, Neolithic (stone-age) farmers lived in the Droxford area. They built a long barrow (a burial chamber) on the site of the village. Much later in the 6th century AD, a people called the Jutes from Denmark invaded central Hampshire. A tribe called the Meon settled in the… Continue reading A History of Droxford

By Tim Lambert Dudley in the Middle Ages Dudley began as a Saxon village. It was originally called Dudda’s leah. The Saxon word leah meant a clearing in a forest. Dudley later became known as the capital of the Black Country. In the 11th century, a castle was built at Dudley. At first, it was… Continue reading A History of Dudley