Category: Articles

By Tim Lambert Early Penzance Penzance began as a small fishing village. It is not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. There may have been a settlement at that time that was too small to warrant a mention or it may have grown up later. The name Penzance is derived from the Cornish words… Continue reading A History of Penzance

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Lee Norris Early Paulsgrove There is a story that St Paul once came to England and he landed north of Portsmouth Harbour by a grove of trees. Afterward, the grove was called Paul’s grove. In reality, it was named after a Saxon named Palla. It was Palla’s grove. Wymering was… Continue reading A History of Paulsgrove

By Tim Lambert Poole in the Middle Ages Poole was founded in the Middle Ages. At the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086, England was divided into areas called manors. The area where Poole now stands was part of the manor of Canford. However, there was no record of a settlement at Poole at… Continue reading A History of Poole

By Tim Lambert Plymouth in the Middle Ages Plymouth began as a fishing village. It belonged to the Prior of Plympton. (A prior was the head of a priory or small abbey). In the early 13th century the prior turned the village into a town by starting a market there. In those days there were… Continue reading A History of Plymouth

By Tim Lambert Petersfield in the Middle Ages Petersfield was founded in the early 12th century. The name Petersfield is a corruption of the words St Peter’s feld. The word feld did not mean field in the modern sense but meant any open area without trees. In the early 12th century, a church was built… Continue reading A History of Petersfield

By Tim Lambert Preston in the Middle Ages Preston began as a village. It was called Priest’s tun, which means a priest’s farm or estate. In the 12th century, it grew into a town. This was partly because of its position. Firstly Preston is on a river. In those days it was much cheaper to… Continue reading A History of Preston

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Vanessa Wood Portsmouth in the Middle Ages Portsmouth was founded about 1180 when a merchant called Jean De Gisors founded a little town in the South-West corner of Portsea Island. Jean De Gisors was a merchant who owned a fleet of ships. He was also a landowner who owned land… Continue reading A History of Portsmouth

By Tim Lambert Roman Portchester Portchester is, of course, famous for its castle. It began when the Romans built a fort in the late 3rd century (the exact date is unknown). At that time fierce Saxons from Germany were attacking Eastern and Southern England and the Romans built a chain of coastal forts to stop… Continue reading A History of Portchester

By Tim Lambert Redruth in the Middle Ages The name Redruth is derived from words meaning ‘red ford’. Until the 14th century, Redruth was only a village. Then in 1334, the king granted the right to hold markets and fairs. (In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets but they were held only once a… Continue reading A History of Redruth

By Tim Lambert Saxon Reading Reading began life as a Saxon settlement. Reading was originally called Reada ingas, which means the people of Reada. Reada was a Saxon leader who settled in the area with his tribe in the 6th century. The early settlement was probably in the area of St Marys Butts. (In the… Continue reading A History of Reading, Berkshire