Walsall is known as ‘the town of a hundred trades’. Initially adopted as a tongue-in-cheek reference to nearby Birmingham’s moniker as ‘the town of a thousand trades’, it is now – in the wake of continued government cutbacks and austerity – a sadly accurate reflection of the town’s employment figures. That said, it should however not be confused with ‘the land of a thousand dances’, which is of course, Wolverhampton. Continue reading “Go Away! Walsall”
If Kent truly is the garden of England, this particular strip along the estuaries of the Thames and Medway can be considered the bit behind the shed. Think less roses and orchards and more compost heap, rusting barbecues and long-lost frisbees.
Continue reading “Go Away: Gillingham”
These days ‘The Hundred of Salford’ is the name given to Salford City’s away following, but at the time of the Domesday Book it was the title of this part of Lancashire and was held by Edward the Confessor, which is why we know so much about it.
Continue reading “Go Away: Salford City”
Think of the River Mersey and one place naturally comes to mind. Yep, that’s right… what? …No, Liverpool?! Are you mad? …No, we’re of course talking about Stockport, where the Mersey is formed by the merging of Tame and Goyt, a particularly underwhelming sounding solicitors, but also more crucially, the river’s two tributaries.
Continue reading “Go Away: Stockport County”
Swindon is the biggest town in Wiltshire, a boast akin to being the tallest of Snow White’s seven dwarves. However until the 19th century it existed only as a small market town, which dealt primarily in barter. Stand down, Richard Keys, we said barter.
Continue reading “Go Away: Swindon Town”
The fourth most famous Mansfield, after Jayne, Keith and Bitter, the town of Mansfield has existed as a settlement since Roman times.
Continue reading “Go Away: Mansfield Town”
As cranes tower over the city as far as you can see and luxury apartments are demolished to make way for even more luxury apartments, the centre of London ceases to be a city in its own right, one where people actually live, and instead evolves into a cross between an old boys club and a duty free lounge. But whilst London becomes anywhere, Leyton is very much London.
Continue reading “Go Away: Leyton Orient”
Tranmere is located on the Wirral peninsula, which according to the Domesday Book could be found ‘two arrow falls from Chester city walls’. Notably the Book didn’t specify in which direction these arrows should fall though leading us to understand the Wirral as being a peculiarly circular entity not unlike a Mediaeval ring road round Chester.
Continue reading “Go Away: Tranmere Rovers”
Newport, Newport, it’s a hell of a town. The crime rate’s up, the house prices are down. Their twin town is just a hole in the ground. Newport, Newport, it’s a hell of a town!
Continue reading “Go Away: Newport County”
Colchester, as you’ll see as we move forward, is a town of bold claims. Its first is that it is Britain’s oldest recorded town. Not oldest town you understand. Just the first that someone felt compelled to write about.
Continue reading “Go Away: Colchester United”
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