Historic market town was England's 'capital' long before London
When you think of England's capital, London, with its iconic landmarks like Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, it immediately springs to mind. But this wasn't always so, as 300 years before London claimed the title, 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 immense - it was once England's capital. In the 8th century, King Offa made Tamworth the seat of Royal power, a status it maintained for nearly two centuries.
While Tamworth was the power centre, and King Offa had a palace there, it wasn't until the 11th century that Tamworth Castle was constructed by Robert Despenser, William the Conqueror's steward, reports the Express.
Before and after the renowned Norman conquest of England, Tamworth experienced a prosperous period as local lords built castles in and around the town.
In the 8th century, England was split into kingdoms: Mercia, Northumbria, and Wessex, with Mercia being the largest and most influential.
Tamworth was at 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 locals a more tranquil lifestyle, with independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants dotting the streets of the traditional town centre.
It might shock many, 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 vanquishing an army of northern English and Scots.
Not only does Colchester claim to be Britain's oldest recorded town, but it also became the nation's Roman capital in AD49.
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South Wales Guardian
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An amber weather warning is in place for the majority of Scotland between 10am and 10pm on Monday, while a yellow warning for wind is also in place as far south as Manchester and north Wales as well as the entirety of Northern Ireland between 6am and midnight on Monday. The Met Office has warned of travel disruption when the summer storm hits, with the Scottish Transport Secretary saying the unseasonable weather makes raising awareness even more important. Trains and ferries have already been cancelled, with Network Rail set to close a number of routes at 12pm on Monday. All other routes will see a reduced timetable and longer journey times due to speed restrictions. Edinburgh – Fife/Perth/Dundee, Perth – Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness, and Inverness – Aberdeen/Wick/Thurso/Kyle of Lochalshare are among a number of lines that will close from noon. Train operator LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle on Monday as a result of the forecast. 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The Met Office said gusts could reach 85mph on exposed coasts or hills north of the border. ⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️#StormFloris to bring unseasonably strong winds across parts of Scotland Monday 1000 – 2200 Latest info 👉 Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ — Met Office (@metoffice) August 3, 2025 Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said a meeting had been held on Friday to ensure the country is ready for the storm, adding: 'Given the unusual timing, and the fact some people will be on holiday, travelling or perhaps unaware, we are trying to raise even more awareness than usual of this potentially disruptive storm. 'Please check with operators as we do expect rail, ferries, roads and bridges to be disrupted on Monday across the country. 'This is a slightly unusual situation for August, however the message is the same as winter – plan ahead, check your journey in advance, allow extra time, and don't take any unnecessary risks. 'Officials will be monitoring the situation and are ready to stand up the Multi Agency Response Team, if required. 'I am grateful to those who are giving up their weekend and time off to help co-ordinate the transport sector's response. 'Traffic Scotland, Police Scotland, Sepa, local authorities and others will communicate any closures to the public and provide real-time updates.' Scottish ferry operator CalMac has issued a series of cancellation warnings ahead of the storm. 'Disruption to sailings is expected across our network on Monday August 4 due to forecasted strong winds across parts of Scotland's west coast,' it posted on X. ⚠️AMBER WEATHER WARNING⚠️ The @metoffice has issued an AMBER warning for WIND🍃 Monday (04/08) 10:00- Monday (04/08) 23:59 YELLOW warnings are also still in place: Monday (04/08) 06:00- Monday (04/08) 22:00 More information can be found here👉 — Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) August 3, 2025 Elsewhere, motorists have been urged to slow down in poor weather and avoid exposed Highland and coastal routes. Rod Dennis, of the RAC breakdown service, said: 'This unseasonable bout of stormy weather will mean drivers in the north and west of the UK need to take extra care at the start of next week. 'It's the height of the holiday season, so those towing trailers and caravans, as well as those with roof and tent boxes, must ensure their loads are properly secured.' Shaun Jones, of the AA, said: 'If you're planning a journey – especially through exposed or rural areas – it's worth checking the latest forecast, allow extra time, and be prepared for the unexpected. 'Keep both hands on the wheel, especially on open roads and motorways, and be mindful of high-sided vehicles and cyclists who may be more affected by gusts. 'Watch out for fallen branches or debris, particularly in rural areas – this could be telltale signs of a fallen tree ahead.' If strong winds are forecast, make sure you keep your home protected. Secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture or anything that could be blown into windows and cause danger. Find out more at — Scottish Government (@scotgov) August 2, 2025 Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: 'Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph, with 60-70mph more likely at higher elevations and around exposed coasts in Scotland. 'There is a small chance that some locations here could even record gusts of 85mph.' The strongest winds will most likely affect Scotland on Monday afternoon and night but 'there remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Floris', a spokesperson added. 'Winds will first ease in the west during later Monday but remaining very strong overnight until early Tuesday in the east. 'Heavy rain may also contribute to the disruption in places.' The warning zone covers Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, north Wales and the north of England. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August, and January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent.
