When one thinks of England’s capital, London immediately springs to mind with its iconic landmarks of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. But this wasn’t always the case.
A historic market town northeast of Birmingham in Staffordshire held that title 300 years before London. Tamworth, spanning a mere 12 square miles, is Staffordshire’s smallest borough and one of the tiniest in the country, but its historical significance is immense as it was once England’s capital.
In the distant 8th century, King Offa designated Tamworth as the Royal seat of power, a status it maintained for nearly two centuries.
Although Tamworth was the power centre and boasted a palace during King Offa’s reign, it wasn’t until the 11th century that Tamworth Castle was constructed by Robert Despenser, steward to William the Conqueror.
Both before and after the renowned Norman conquest of England, Tamworth experienced a prosperous era as local lords erected castles within and around the town.
During the 8th century, England was partitioned into the kingdoms of Mercia, Northumbria, and Wessex, with Mercia being the most substantial and influential.
Tamworth was the heart of the Mercian Kingdom, and the Mercian Kings spent more time there 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 at the Battle of Hastings.
Today, the market town retains its historical charm and offers residents a more tranquil lifestyle, with independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants dotting the streets of the traditional town centre.
It may come as a shock to some, but England has had numerous capitals before London was finally chosen.
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 Scottish army.
Not only does Colchester claim to be Britain’s oldest recorded town, but it also became the nation’s Roman capital in AD49.