By Tim Lambert Early Calne Calne is a market town in Winchester. Its name is derived from the Celtic words Col-aun, meaning “meeting of the waters”. Calne was first mentioned in a document about 955. In 978, a council of powerful men called the Witan met in Calne. However, the upper floor of the hall they… Continue reading A History of Calne
Category: Articles
A History of Huntingdon
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
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