By Tim Lambert Thomas Hardy was a great British writer of the 19th century. Thomas was born in the village of Higher Bockhampton, Dorset on 2 June 1840. His father, also called Thomas was a stonemason. His mother was named Jemima. They had 4 children. (Thomas had a brother and two sisters). Thomas was the… Continue reading A Biography of Thomas Hardy
Category: Articles
Stained Glass Windows in St Peters Church Somerstown
By Tim Lambert Here is some brief information about the stained glass windows inside St Peters Church, Somerstown. The North Side of the Church The windows on the north side of the church depict saints of the Early Middle Ages. St Hugo AKA Saint Hugh of Lincoln St Hugo or St Hugh of Lincoln was… Continue reading Stained Glass Windows in St Peters Church Somerstown
A History of Blandford Forum
By Tim Lambert Early Blandford Forum Blandford Forum began as a Saxon settlement by the River Stour. (It’s believed the river’s name is derived from a Saxon word meaning strong or mighty). At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, Blandford was called Blaneford. It’s not certain where the ‘Blane’ part of the name… Continue reading A History of Blandford Forum
Jack the Ripper in Havant?
By Tim Lambert Havant has a connection with Jack the Ripper. At the time of the murders, in 1888 a letter with a Portsmouth postmark was sent to a magistrate claiming to be from Jack the Ripper. The writer said not to look for him in London because ‘I’m not there’. Shortly afterwards a boy… Continue reading Jack the Ripper in Havant?
A History of Blendworth
By Tim Lambert Blendworth is a hamlet in Hampshire. It’s believed it was originally called Blaenda’s worth. A worth was an enclosure or farmstead. But the original settlement at Blendworth was slightly east of the present one. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Blendworth was part of the manor of Chalton. (England… Continue reading A History of Blendworth
A History of Chippenham
By Tim Lambert Early Chippenham Chippenham was first recorded in 853 when the sister of Prince Alfred (the future King Alfred of Wessex) got married there. In 878 the Danes captured Chippenham. But King Alfred escaped. He rallied his men and defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington. At the time of the Domesday… Continue reading A History of Chippenham
A History of Carmarthen
By Tim Lambert Early Carmarthen The story of Carmarthen began when the Romans built a fort on the site about 75 AD. A civilian settlement soon grew up by the fort and it became a flourishing town called Moridunum. The town included an amphitheatre where people would watch spectacles such as gladiators fighting. However, after… Continue reading A History of Carmarthen
A History of Kendal
By Tim Lambert Early Kendal The Romans built a fort at Watercrook just south of Kendal. A civilian settlement grew up beside it. The fort’s garrison would have provided a market for locally made goods. But the fort was abandoned in the late 3rd century. In later centuries a settlement grew up at Kendal. It… Continue reading A History of Kendal
A History of Warminster
By Tim Lambert Early Warminster The remains of two Roman villas were found near Warminster. However, the modern town dates from the Saxon era. The origin of the name Warminster is not certain, but it’s probably derived from the name of the River Were and a minster (a minster was a monastery church). St Denys… Continue reading A History of Warminster
A Biography of Jack The Ripper
By Tim Lambert Jack the Ripper was a serial killer of women in the East End of London in 1888. The murderer was never caught and the case remains a mystery. The Victims Martha Tabram (?) Nobody is certain how many women Jack the Ripper killed. Most people think there were 5 victims but there… Continue reading A Biography of Jack The Ripper