The town has a rich history and was once the capital of England – 300 years before London was granted the status
When you picture England’s capital city, London with its iconic landmarks like Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament probably springs to mind. But rewind 300 years before London claimed this title, and you’ll find a humble market town northeast of Birmingham in Staffordshire held the honour.
Despite being just 12 square miles, making it Staffordshire’s smallest borough and one of the tiniest in the country, Tamworth’s historical significance is huge – it was once the capital of England.
In the 8th century, King Offa put Tamworth on the map by establishing it as the seat of Royal power, a status it maintained for nearly two centuries.
While Tamworth was the hub of power, and even boasted a palace during King Offa’s reign, it wasn’t until the 11th century that Tamworth Castle was constructed by Robert Despenser, steward of William the Conqueror, reports the Express.
Both before and after the renowned Norman conquest of England, Tamworth experienced a golden age as local lords built castles within and around the town. Back in the 8th century, England was split into the kingdoms of Mercia, Northumbria and Wessex, with Mercia being the largest and most influential.
Tamworth sat at the heart of the Mercian Kingdom, and the Mercian Kings spent more time here than anywhere else. However, London’s position as the capital city was solidified in 1066 when William the Conqueror marched on the city following his triumph in the Battle of Hastings.
Today, the market town continues to be rich in history and provides locals with a more peaceful lifestyle, with independent shops, coffee houses, bars and restaurants populating the streets of the traditional town centre.
This might shock many, but before London was finally chosen, England had numerous capitals. In the 10th Century, Athelstan, the first king of (all) England and grandson of Alfred the Great, declared Malmesbury his capital after defeating a northern English and Scots army.
Not only does Colchester claim to be Britain’s oldest recorded town, it was also transformed into the nation’s Roman capital in AD49.
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