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16th Century  |  17th Century  |  18th Century  |  19th Century  |  20th Century  |  21st Century

This chronology of Towcester covers the last thousand years and was produced as the background study for an illustrated public talk given at Towcester Town Hall in 2000 to celebrate the Millennium.

The chronology starts at the year 1000, approximately three generations after Edward the elder, King of Wessex had re-fortified the town as part of his successful military campaign against the Danes in 921. The entries relating to Towcester in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle indicate that there was a settlement at Towcester prior to this and pottery evidence would suggest that the town was occupied in the seventh century. It is possible that parts of the former Roman town of Lactodurum were occupied throughout the Anglo-Saxon period but there is neither documentary nor archaeological evidence to support this. If Towcester did exist as a settlement after the Roman period it would have been within the area controlled by the Middle Angles in the seventh century, the Mercians in the ninth century and Wessex after 921. It was during the latter period of Wessex domination that the foundations of modern Towcester were re-established.

By Brian Giggins

References
Garmonsway G.N.1972. "The Anglo Saxon Chronicle" London. J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd