Welcome to Tamworth Castle & Town

My Home Town

Tamworth Is the thriving market town lying at the confluence of the river Anker and Tame in the south eastern corner of Staffordshire. Rich in history and culture, the borough covers more than 7,647 cares and has a population of over 70,000 people.

Straddling the famous Walting street (now the B5404), Tamworth is surrounded by beautiful, unspoiled rural countryside, canals, rivers, lakes, trails and many other places of interest. It is an excellent touring base for exploring the Midlands, for visors and people on business.

Tamworth lies at the very heart of the country's communication network with two major Midland airports les than 20 miles away, a main line railway station and direct access to the national motorways system.

Birmingham and the National Exhibition centre are only 30 minutes away by car and the Peak District and the world famous Staffordshire Potteries (home of Josiah Wedge wood, who mass produced a porcelain type ware) are just a little further.

Tamworth is also on the doorstep of Leicestershire’s Ivanhoe Country, the Vale of the Trent and Shakespeare’s Warwickshire.

Once known as Tomtun, Tamworth was the capital of the ancient Saxon kingdom of Mercia and has had a fascinating and turbulent past. King offa, of Offa’s Dyke fame, established his Palace here in the 8^th century. The Town was twice razed to the ground by the Danes (in AD874 and 943) and the evidence of these invaders survive in the town’s street names which end in the Scandinavian term’gate’.

Dominating the town is the 12^th century Norman motte and sandstone bailey Castle which stands on the site of fortification built by Ethelflaeda, King Alfred’s daughter and the Lady of the Mercian’s in AD 913.Surrounded it are sturdy battlements, ramparts and the Pleasure grounds with their magnificent floral terraces.

In the 1723, Daniel Defoe called Tamworth ‘a small but very handsome market town’. Of course , it still is; some of the highlights being the fine 18^th Century building of the Market street, Ladybank and the charming stone and brick Town Hall with it’s open arches on Tuscan style columns.

I’m pleased to share a small insight into the Town of Tamworth, please feel free to sign guest book or e-mail me, happy surfing.