PRE-ORDER ONLY: Available from December 6th 2024
In 1530 William Forrest, the poet-monk of Thame Abbey, wrote of 'Thame, that gentle Merket Towne.' This book scratches the surface of Thame's history to look at the place beneath.
What brought about Thame as we know it today? The first mention is of its minster. It joined in the defence against the Danes. William the Conqueror passed by on his way to London. It became a market town. Its church was besieged and set alight. Its links with London grew. Kings visited. It was at the heart of agricultural violence. It educated arguably the greatest political mind of his time. It suffered Civil War violence. Two of its nobles - a century and more apart - ensured the succession of three disputed monarchs. It was home to French priests and prisoners. It gave birth to a prize fighter who became known as the Father of Boxing. Its old agricultural system was ripped apart by mathematicians. Perhaps thankfully, it narrowly escaped being a national transport hub. And always there were the Poor... 'Gentle' is probably not a good word for any place's history. Thame has been chronically involved with change all its life.