When you think of the capital city of England you immediately think of London and the world-famous landmarks including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
However, this hasn’t always been the case, as 300 years before London was the capital a modest market town northeast of Birmingham in Staffordshire took the claim.
At just 12 square miles, Tamworth is the smallest borough in Staffordshire, and one of the smallest in the country, but don’t underestimate its significance as Tamworth was once the capital of England.
Way back in the 8th century, King Offa established Tamworth as the seat of royal power – a position it retained for almost 200 years.
While Tamworth was the seat of power, and there was a palace in the town in King Offa’s day, it wasn’t until the 11th century that Tamworth Castle was built by Robert Despenser, steward of William the Conqueror.
Before and after the famous Norman conquest of England, Tamworth enjoyed a period of prosperity as lords of the manor built castles in and around the town.
In the 8th century, England was divided up into kingdoms which were Mercia, Northumbria and Wessex, Mercia being the largest and most significant.
Tamworth was the heartland of the Mercian Kingdom and the Mercian Kings spent more time at Tamworth than anywhere else
However, London’s status as a capital city was cemented in 1066 when William the Conqueror marched on the city following his victory in the Battle of Hastings.
Today, the market town remains steeped in history and offers locals a quieter way of life, with independent shops, coffee shops, bars and restaurants lining the streets of the traditional town centre.
This may come as a surprise to many, but England has had many capitals before London was eventually settled upon.
In the 10th Century, Athelstan, the first king of (all) England and grandson of Alfred the Great, made Malmesbury his capital after defeating an army of northern English and Scots.
As well as claiming to be Britain’s oldest recorded town, Colchester was turned into the nation’s Roman capital in AD49.