By Tim Lambert Early Bermondsey Bermondsey takes its name from a Saxon landowner. It was Beormund’s eg. The word eg meant an island, a promontory of land or in this case an ‘island’ of dry land surrounded by marsh. In the Middle Ages, a Cluniac Abbey stood in the heart of the settlement. It was… Continue reading A History of Bermondsey
Category: Articles
A Brief Biography of Christopher Wren
By Tim Lambert Christopher Wren was one of the greatest architects of the 17th century. He is, of course, famous for St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Wren was born on 20 October 1632 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, England. His father was a clergyman. Christopher was educated at Westminster School and in 1650 he went to… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Christopher Wren
A History of Chelsea
By Tim Lambert Early Chelsea Chelsea began life as a Saxon village some miles from the thriving town of London. The name Chelsea is derived from the Saxon words cealc hythe. The word hythe meant a landing place for boats. The word cealc meant chalk so perhaps it was a chalky landing place for boats.… Continue reading A History of Chelsea
A history of Clapham
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
A History of Southwark
By Tim Lambert Southwark in the Middle Ages The Romans built a ‘suburb’ south of the River Thames on the site of modern Southwark. However, it was abandoned in the 5th century when the Romans left Britain. Yet under the Saxons, a new ‘suburb’ grew up and flourished. It was called the South work and… Continue reading A History of Southwark
A History of Westminster
By Tim Lambert Early Westminster Edward the Confessor (1042-1066) built a royal palace in the countryside outside the walls of London. He also built a church, Westminster Abbey, consecrated in December 1065. In December 1066 William the Conqueror was crowned in Westminster Abbey. Since then every English monarch has been crowned there (except for Edward V and… Continue reading A History of Westminster
A History of Leigh Park
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 A History of Leigh Park
Hinckley in the Civil War
By Alan Roberts Hinckley played a prominent part in the Civil War. Its proximity to several rival garrisons – the royalist garrisons at Ashby de la Zouch and Leicester, the Parliamentarians at Tamworth and Coventry, and parties of troops or brigands occupying several fortified houses in Warwickshire ensured frequent visits by the warring parties. The… Continue reading Hinckley in the Civil War
A Biography of John Wesley
By Tim Lambert His Early Life John Wesley was a famous preacher of the 18th century. He helped to found the Methodist movement. John Wesley was born on 28 June in the village of Epworth in Lincolnshire. His father was Samuel Wesley and his mother was Susanna. In 1714 John was sent to Charterhouse School.… Continue reading A Biography of John Wesley
A Brief Biography of William Wilberforce
By Tim Lambert William Wilberforce campaigned against the slave trade. He was born on 24 August 1759 in Wilberforce House in High Street, Hull, Yorkshire. William had 3 sisters but only 1 lived to adulthood. His father, Robert was a merchant. His mother was called Elizabeth. As a child, William was educated at Hull Grammar… Continue reading A Brief Biography of William Wilberforce