By Tim Lambert Early Huntingdon Huntingdon began as an Anglo-Saxon and Danish settlement. Its name was probably Huntandun, which means the hill (dun) belonging to Hunta. By the 10th century, it was a small town. There has been a church in Huntingdon since 973 but All Saints Church was largely rebuilt in the early 17th… Continue reading A History of Huntingdon
Category: Articles
A History of Melksham
By Tim Lambert Early Melksham The town of Melksham in Wiltshire began as a Saxon village. Its name was probably once meolc ham, which means milk settlement. There must have been a dairy farm there. At the time of the Domesday Book, Melksham probably had a population of about 850. By the standards of the… Continue reading A History of Melksham
Heat Related History Facts
By Tim Lambert Our word curfew comes from the old French couvrir feu cover fire, because when a bell rang at a certain time, you were supposed to put out your fire and go to bed. It was a precaution against accidental fires, which were a big hazard when people lived in wooden houses with… Continue reading Heat Related History Facts
A History of Marlborough
By Tim Lambert Early Marlborough Marlborough is a market town in Wiltshire. It began as an Anglo-Saxon settlement. We are not sure what its name meant, but ‘borough’ is probably a corruption of ‘beorg’, meaning hill or mound. The ‘marl’ may have come from a man’s name. Maybe it was Mærla’s mound. Or it may… Continue reading A History of Marlborough
A History of Wellingborough
By Tim Lambert Early Wellingborough Wellingborough began as an Anglo-Saxon settlement. It was once called Waendel’s burh, which means Waendel’s fortified settlement. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, Wellingborough probably had a population of about 250. By the standards of the time, it was a large village. (A typical village would be… Continue reading A History of Wellingborough
A History of Newark-on-Trent
By Tim Lambert Early Newark-on-Trent Newark-on-Trent began as a fortified Anglo-Saxon settlement. Its name comes from Old English words meaning “new fort”. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, it may have had a population of about 350. By the standards of the time, it was a large village. After 1092, it belonged… Continue reading A History of Newark-on-Trent
A History of Axminster
By Tim Lambert Early Axminster Axminster is a market town in Devon. It began as a Celtic settlement about 300 BC. However, in 43 AD, the Romans invaded Britain. The Romans built a fort at Woodbury Farm near Axminster. There was also a small town in Roman times. It’s believed the Roman settlement was called… Continue reading A History of Axminster
A History of Devizes
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
A History of Tiverton
By Tim Lambert Medieval Tiverton Tiverton began as a Saxon village. Its name is derived from the words twy ford tun, meaning settlement by the two fords. Tiverton was first mentioned in a document in 885. At the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086, it probably had a population of about 400. By the standards… Continue reading A History of Tiverton
A History of Barnstaple
By Tim Lambert Early Barnstaple Where does the name Barnstaple come from? The ‘staple’ is derived from the Old English stapol word meaning post. The first part of its name probably comes from the word bearde, meaning battle axe. It’s possible the post was used as a meeting place for people in North Devon. It’s… Continue reading A History of Barnstaple