Bottisham Second Millennium
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INTRODUCTION
It is hoped that this little book will generate
interest in our history and, in doing so, will
encourage a wish to preserve what remains.
A description of life in Bottisham during the second
millennium can only be a brief account of the vast range of
historical records and reviews available. However, it may be
possible to stimulate an awareness of some of the triumphs and
tragedies of those who lived in our region during the last
thousand years. From the start of this account two major
problems have to be addressed. In a recounting of past events
where does fact end and fiction begin? We should not be too
distressed by seeking an answer to this question. Second, so
much information exists that, with a little daring, we must make
subjective choices, then extrapolate and piece together items
of evidence and hopefully arrive at an acceptable story of
Bottisham life and times during the second millennium. For
convenience and simplification, Part
One
has been divided
into centuries but with an overlap where it would not be
sensible to make such concise subdivisions of history. Part
Two is subdivided into subjects relevant to the period from
1700 to 1999.
During the course of the millennium some twelve
different spellings have been in vogue for the area known as
Bottisham. Names appearing in various documents (Hailstone,
1873) include -
Bodekesham, Bodichessham, Bodegesham,
Bottlesham, Botlesham, Bodkysham, Botkysham, Bottesham,
Botesham, Botsham, Botsam and Bottisham, the latter spelling
is the one used throughout this account. It is most likely that