This brief history of Richmond, England is a dateline of the highlights of the town. It is not intended to be a comprehensive history, but only to share some interesting historical facts about this ancient town.

Neolithic Period (-2000-4000 B.C.)
Flints (shaped stones for hunting and shaping tools). Excavated at Scorton near Richmond.

Bronze Age (-2500 - 2000 B.C.)
1992 Bronze Sword found near Catterick Bridge.

Iron Age (-700 B.C. - 1st Century A.D.)
Remains of:
a. Major earthwork at Malden Castle near Healaugh, Swaledale.
b. Stanwick earthworks near Aldborough St. John, near Richmond, excavated in 1951-1952 by Sir Mortimer Wheeler. These fortifications were constructed by the Brigantes, then the largest tribe in northern England during the Iron Age. Their queen was Cartismadua, who is thought to have made a treaty with the Romans. Roman pottery and artifacts have been excavated.

Roman Period (43 A.D. - 400 A.D.)
Caractonium - A Roman site, possibly present Catterick. Wood writing slabs found at Hadrian's Wall show details of supply requirements sent to Caractonium. Finds of Roman metal work found in Fremlington and Swaledale The finds are now in the British Museum. Roman lead mining at Hurst, Swaledale, recorded. Roman road of Dere Street, which is part of present highway A1, runs north via Catterick. Watling Street, a major Roman road, runs north via Stanwick, Durham and Northumberland to Hadrian's Wall.

1724 Important Roman hoard found in bank of the River Swale near Richmond Castle. Six hundred and twenty silver Roman coins and spoons were found.

1930's Easby Cross (Christian) found at Easby near Richmond. A cast of the original cross is in Easby church. The original cross is located in the British Museum.

1937 Robert Pedley of Grinton, Swaledale found roman pottery. Amongst this was Samian Ware, a reddish - coloured, high quality pottery of Roman/Gaul origin.

1956 More Roman coins found in the bank of the Richmond Castle.

1976 Gilling-West, Richmond, Viking sword found in local beck (it had a silver hilt). It is now in the Castle Museum, York. Anglo-Saxon cross found in Gilling Beck. 10th Century Hog-Back tombstone found at Gilling-West. Both items are now in Richmondshire Museum.

The Romans gradual withdrawal to other parts of their Empire left England in a state of instability. In Richmond/Swaledale, Anglo-Saxon invaded first, later the Danes and then the Norseman landed in the area. The River Swale and hinterland became part of the kingdom of Deira. Later this was joined to the kingdom of Bernicia and formed the large kingdom of Northumbria.

570 A.D. Anglo-Saxon battle against local inhabitants at Cattraeth (generally accepted as present Catterick) resulted in a Cattraeth defeat.
Christianity later came to the area when monk Paulinus baptized Edwin, King of Northumbria. Hundreds of people were later baptized in the River Swale at a point near Catterick (known as the Holy River and the Jordan of England).

1066 After the battle of Hastings William I gave extensive lands to his followers, as a reward for their active support. Alan Rufus of Brittany, a kinsman of William, received the honour of Richmond, which spread over Yorkshire and throughout England, even to parts of Dorset. Richmond, North Yorkshire is the "Mother" of all Richmonds throughout the world. The word Richmond comes from the Norman Riche-Mont meaning "strong hill".

1071 Alan Rufus began building the of Richmond castle. It was built of stone from the outset. A defensive site was chosen on a steep hill above the fast flowing River Swale.

Mid 12th Century Conan 'The Little' Earl of Richmond and Duke of Brittany, added to the Great Keep, which was finished by Henry II. It has never been besieged, but in 1174 it was used to imprison the Scottish King William The Lion.

Important growth in wealth led to Richmond becoming a chartered borough. It had 13 craft guilds (which controlled trade) and was an important center for markets and fairs. A market was held every Saturday (1441 Henry IV granted a royal charter to hold a Saturday market) which tradition continues today.

1311 Defensive stone walls built to protect the town from Scottish raids. Two postern gates in the town wall still survive; The Bar postern at the top of Cornforth-Hill and in Friars Wynd the other postern gate remains. The Market Place, was originally the outer bailey of the castle. At one time stood the Stocks and Pillory, for punishing wrongdoers. Also the market cross was a feature in the market. It was a place to gather and a position for selling butter and cheese. The Market Cross was replaced by the present Obelisk.

14th and 15th Centuries-The Bubonic Plagues Richmond and Swaledale had a series of very wet weather during these years, resulting poor harvests. Cattle and sheep succumbed to diseases. The poor harvests and the loss of livestock resulted in a weaken population which was devastated by Bubonic Plague in 1349. Smaller plague epidemics occurred for the next 100 years. A cemetery at Easby Church has a plague stone commerated to all those who died of the plague. The deadly disease wiped out many of the inhabitants and affected trade and the farming industry in Richmond, as well as Britian.

Medieval Religious Houses
Medieval Richmond had a variety of places of worhip. There were three chapels in Richmond castle, the Trinity Chapel in the Marketplace, St.Mary, the Virgin Parish Church, three chapels on the outskirts of the town, a college for Chantry priests, two small hospitals and an Anchorite's cell (Maison Dieu Area). The most important religious centers were the House of the Greyfriars (now only the Bell Tower remains) and the premonstratensian - order of The White Canons at Easby Abbey. A small chapel dedicated to St. James of Compestella existed in what is now St. James Chapel Wynd, which leads from the Green to Bargate.

1536/7 Henry VIII broke allegiance from Rome, which eventually resulted in England becoming English Catholics with Henry head of the Church. Following this, Henry caused the dissolution of the monasteries. The abbey at Easby and the Friary both had their roofs and alters shattered, as well as the kitchens laid waste. Their ruins can still be seen.

Richmond and the English Civil War
Mid 17th century England was divided, some supporting the monarchy (Charles I) while others desired to be ruled by the Parliament. Richmond, at this time, became the headquarters of the Scottish Army, (Parliamentarians). The local inhabitants suffered greatly under their harsh behaviour. In 1660, Richmond rejoiced when Charles II was restored to the throne. Late 17th century Richmond gradually prospered and the two main industries which expanded in the outlying dale were lead mining and knitting. The wool, which came from the Swaledale sheep, was rough but waterproof. The wool was brought into Richmond, the market town of the dale. It was sold to buyers who passed it onto local knitters. Whole families, men, women and children made the caps and stockings. These were exported to areas of need, such as, Holland and Belgium, known then as the Low Countries.

Late 17th and 18th centuries marked Richmond's growth. New elegant Georgian housing and buildings replaced many of the older medieval buildings. Frenchgate and Newbiggin have Georgian buildings that have remained to the present day.

1746 Culloden Tower The tower was built to commemorate the Hanovarian victory over the Jacobite Scots at Culloden Moor, situated near Richmond Green.

1756 The Town Hall built as a Georgian assembly room.

1766 Frances I'Anson was born in Leyburn, Wensleydale. Her association with the Hill House Richmond was through her maternal grandparents who had occupied the house from 1750-1768. Frances married songwriter, Leonard McNally who composed the famous song "The Lass of Richmond Hill".

1768 John Wesley the founder of the non-conformist sect, preached in the market place. He preached again in 1774 at the east end of Newbiggin and finally in 1786 he preached in Frenchgate.

1771 The old Market Cross was replaced by the present Obelisk. It was originally built over a large reservoir, which supplied the townsfolk with drinking water.

1787 Opening of the re-built Georgian Theatre. Samuel Butler was both an actor and manager of players. This theatre was a popular asset.

1788-9 The Green Bridge (called because it crosses over the river to the Richmond Green) was built. Dates and names of the mayors of the time are carved on the center of the bridge. Opposite on the other side is a milestone showing the distances to Askrigg and Lancaster. This was the start of the Richmond - Lancaster turnpike road. John Carr, the renowned Yorkshire Georgian architect designed the bridge.
Richmond Green during medieval times was the area used for a tannery, corn and fulling mills, a brewery and nail makers. During the Georgian period it was the site of the Yorke Mansion and Gardens, which now are the site of the Culloden Tower. (John Yorke was M.P. for Richmond in the 18th century and was the landowner who had the Culloden Tower built in 1746).

1844-46 Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Ludwidge Dodgson) author of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, attended Richmond Grammar School when his father was Rector at Croft on Tees church, near Richmond.
Richmond Grammar School refounded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1567 stood in the parish churchyard. Replaced by a much larger building (facing the Richmond Batts.) In 1850 two famous Georgian Headmasters; Anthony Temple 1724- 1795 and James Tate 1771-1843. Temple succeeded in getting 29 of his pupils sent to Oxford and Cambridge. James Tate was even more successful; becoming a nationally known school for classical learning. Tate sent up many scholars to Cambridge. (known as Tate's invincibles). Twentyone Richmond Grammar School students become Fellows, 13 of them at Trinity College). Later Whig Prime minister, Lord Grey, patronized Richmond Grammar School.

Castle Walk The Castle Walk was built around the walls. This provided level walking or promenading, for the wealthy visitors. Scenic views from the castle walk of the River Swale, Fosse waterfall and Billy Bank woods were greatly admired.

1817 Thomas Bradley map shows the result of The Enclosures Act of Parliament which affected Richmond. The medieval fields, West Field, The Gallowfield and East Field, ceased to be public. William Dawson supervised the sale of land.

1820 Gas-Light company was founded. The site chosen was near the Fosse (waterfall) and the castle mill site. In 1849 this private gas company was taken over by the Richmond Corporation.

1830 Richmond Gas Works. A sub-committee formed to organize the first street lighting. Twelve to eighteen oil lamps were positioned in various parts of the town. Richmond is credited as being a leader of radical reform and one of the first towns to have public street lighting.

1832 Municiple Reform - Parliament reformed system of representation. Richmond now had a mayor, 4 aldermen and 12 counselors. The vote was given to all rate-payers.

1846 The Railways - The Darlington to Stockton Railway was opened in 1825. A branch line was later extended in 1846 to Richmond chiefly looking for profits from the carriage of coal, lead and lime. The cost of transporting Swaledale lead to Stockton was cut by one third. The farming community benefitted, as exported grain and crops were also cheaper. Nine miles of track was completed in a few months running through Dalton, Moulton, Catterick Bridge, and Richmond. The bridge over the River Swale and the station road leading up to the market place were built around the same time. The railway and station buildings boosted tourist trade into Richmond and also gave the ordinary townsfolk a better travel facility.

Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Boy-Scout movement, Head of the Northern Division of the Territorials, planned Catterick Camp, to be situated south of Richmond in the Hipswell area while living in Richmond Barracks in the castle in 1908-1910. The Camp's first troops occupied the area in 1915. Commander M.F. Rimmington was the officer in charge.

1915 5000 German prisoners of war were housed at the Camp, where they were employed in constructing the road leading out of Richmond Station - via St. Martins - Hipswell Road - The Catterick Camp.

1927 June 29th: Plaque in Reeth road records a total eclipse.

1929 600th anniversary of the town's charters. Celebrated by roasting an ox in the Richmond market place.