By Tim Lambert Early Kidderminster Kidderminster began as an Anglo-Saxon settlement. A minister was a group of monks. It may have been Cyneburg’s minister, because it was dedicated to or founded by a woman of that name. At the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086 it was called Chideminstre. At that time Kidderminster was… Continue reading A History of Kidderminster
Category: Articles
A History of Dunblane
By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Donna Shaw Early Dunblane The Scottish town of Dunblane probably takes its name from the words Dun Blane, meaning Blane’s fort. Blane was a Scottish saint who lived in the 6th century and who founded a monastery at Dunblane. Most of Dunblane Cathedral was built during the 13th century. The… Continue reading A History of Dunblane
A History of Hertford
By Tim Lambert Early Hertford In the 10th century King Edward built two burhs (fortified places) north and south of the River Lea at a place called the Harts Ford. One of them developed into Hertford Castle. The other became a civilian settlement. By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, Hertford had a… Continue reading A History of Hertford
A History of Spalding
By Tim Lambert Early Spalding Spalding in Lincolnshire began as an Anglo-Saxon settlement. The ‘ing’ was originally ingas meaning the people of. It’s not certain what ‘Spald’ meant. It may have come from a word meaning ditch or ravine. By the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086 Spalding had a population of over 400.… Continue reading A History of Spalding
A History of Ely
By Tim Lambert Early Ely Ely began as an Anglo-Saxon settlement. It’s not certain where the name came from. It may have been Eel eg, meaning Eel Island. At any rate, a monastery was founded at Ely in 673. However it was destroyed by the Danes in 870. The monastery was re-founded in 970. In… Continue reading A History of Ely
A History of Soham
By Tim Lambert Early Soham The village of Soham in Cambridgeshire began as an Anglo-Saxon settlement. The Old English word ham meant a homestead or village but the origin of the first part of its name is uncertain. It may have been Sae ham meaning the homestead by the pool (sae). Early in the 7th… Continue reading A History of Soham
Crime Useless Information
By Tim Lambert On 30 September 1630, John Billington became the first person executed in America for murder. On 11 May 1812 British prime minister Spencer Perceval was shot by a merchant named John Bellingham. Perceval was the only British prime minister to be assassinated. John Bellingham was hanged on 18 May 1812. In 1849,… Continue reading Crime Useless Information
A History of Woking
By Tim Lambert Early Woking The town of Woking in Surrey began as a Saxon settlement. It was Wocca ingas, which measn the people of Wocca. By the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086 Woking probably had a population of about 350. By the standards of the time it was a large village. It… Continue reading A History of Woking
A History of Prisons
By Tim Lambert Early Prisons Before the 18th century prisons were not commonly used as a punishment. Instead, people were often held in prisons until their trial. The sentence was usually execution or some form of corporal punishment. Early prisons for ordinary people were very dirty and extremely overcrowded. Diseases were rife and being sent… Continue reading A History of Prisons
A History of Sex Toys
By Tim Lambert Ancient Sex Toys People have used sex toys since Prehistoric Times, of course. Stone, bone, antler or wood dildos have been found from the era before writing was invented. Double ended dildos were also made in the Prehistoric Era. In Ancient Greece dildos were made of bronze or leather. Dildos were also… Continue reading A History of Sex Toys