The Twickenham Museum
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'Tuican hom'
First written mention of 'Tuican hom' in a Charter
704

Saxon settlements

In Saxon times the River Thames was shallow and reedy with many more islands than today. The river was the main highway between the settlements on its banks.

The settlements were small, probably less than 20 households, and surrounded by fields, pastures, meadows, marshes, fishponds, rivers and enclosures for their animals.

These settlements were later to become the towns of Twickenham, Teddington and the Hamptons.

tuican hom

The Kings Charter

In 704 AD, Swaefred King of the East Saxons and Earl Paeogthath granted the Bishop of London a portion of land "in the place which is called Tuican Hom". Spelling was not fixed in Saxon times and the same charter describes the settlement as Tuican hom and Tuiccanham.

The land granted to the Bishop was bounded by the River Thames to the south and east and a flooded plain to the north called Fishbourne (now the River Crane). The King hoped that by giving the Bishop this fine piece of land the Bishop would pray for the salvation of his soul.

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