At the northern terminus of the Bure Valley Railway, Aylsham sits beside the river Bure, one of the busiest rivers in the Norfolk broads. Nestling in the Bure meadows is the National Trusts’ Bickling Estate, the birth place of Anne Boleyn. The Gallery Library in the Jacobean mansion contains the National Trusts’ most precious collection […]
Chertsey is a market town on the banks of the Thames which grew around a Benedictine Abbey founded in 666. The Vikings destroyed the Abbey in 871 killing the Abbott and 90 monks. King Edgar refounded the Abbey in 964 and some ruins, mostly the gardens, still remain. The Abbey fishponds remain and fill with […]
In the heart of west Wiltshire, Trowbridge is a vibrant town with truly ancient roots. Here you can wander through streets where Romans, Saxons and Normans have all left their mark. In the C13th the town was the headquarters of a Magna Carta Baron. With 24 others, he forced King John to sign the ‘great […]
Eastbourne was a large coastal community that lived on fishing and farming. In 1232 it was granted a market charter, but it remained a village. The town became more popular in the C18th as a health resort and the King’s family stayed here. However, transport was difficult on poor roads and travel was expensive. Once […]
Stevenage in Hertfordshire was once a quiet country town, but in 1946 it became Britain’s first New Town. These provided quality housing and community facilities in response to the post-war housing shortage. The new town of Stevenage was six self-contained residential areas arranged around the original town. Now called Stevenage Old Town, this original part […]
Witney is situated 12 miles west of Oxford and was once an important river crossing on the River Windrush. The place-name Witney is first attested in a Saxon charter of 969 as Wyttannige; it appears as Witenie in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name means Witta’s island. A charming and bustling market town, there’s […]
Godalming a market town in South West Surrey has a long history. The presence of Mesolithic and Neolithic flints points to human activity here in prehistoric times. Also, remains of Roman pottery suggest Roman occupation nearby. The pretty town was already a large busy village in Anglo Saxon times. Then, King Alfred left the village […]
The ancient market town of Bampton lies in the south of the area, not far from the River Thames. Until about 1850 it stood in the centre of a large area of common land, hence its name ‘Bampton in the Bush’. The name, meaning Beam-tun (the settlement by the tree or cross), was a major […]
History of Bradford on Avon On the edge of the Cotswolds and a stones throw from Bath, Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire makes the perfect base for visitors to the area. It’s an architectural treasure chest with buildings from centuries past. Many buildings are made from local Bath stone. Visitors can discover dwellings from tiny […]
Faversham Market Place © Visit Kent The history of Faversham dates back to pre-Roman times. Its quaint charm and setting, between the beautiful Kentish Downs and the coast, makes it a popular choice for visitors. Markets in Faversham There is a market here three times a week; it’s the oldest in the county. It takes […]
