This special reprint of the Knowle newspaper was included in the programme for Knowle Operatic Society's show, 'Around the World in 40 Years', which was performed as part of Knowle's Millennium celebrations.

Knoll Times

1st January 1000

CELEBRATE THE NEW MILLENIUM

Well, what a century it’s been. The vast Roman Empire, which covered the entire Mediterranean and Gaul has expanded to include England in the year 43, just 13 years after Jesus was crucified. By 77, Wales had been occupied and in 84 they had reached Scotland and were fighting the Picts. In 122, the decision was made to fence off the vicious Caledonians and construction began on Hadrian’s Wall. As with all building contracts, it took longer and cost more than expected, but was eventually finished in 130 . The Romans also began a huge programme of road building to help move their armies around - but the cost of this exercise began to strain the purses so a new system was introduced in 212 - taxation of all free men. Surely this must be the longest surviving idea ever brought to Britain by the Roman’s !

 A few centuries later, in 480, the Saxon’s from Northern Germany began a takeover bid for Britain by pushing the Romans out and establishing the Kingdom’s of South Saxon’s (Sussex) and West Saxon’s (Wessex). Their efforts were gradually thwarted by the Britons (whom the Saxon’s called Welsh - meaning “foreigners”) and they were limited to occupying the south-east of England.

 During 597 the first Christian missionaries arrived and started converting our people from paganism, which they finally completed in 687 when the last stronghold on the Isle of Wight converted.

 One of the first British inventions to go overseas was the brainchild of the historian Bede, a Northumbrian Monk, who calculated back to the birth of Christ and invented the calendar! For the first time we knew the date - 725. Unfortunately, by the time someone else worked out that he got it wrong by 4 years (so he actually invented the date in 721), there were so many hand produced calendars in circulation it was thought too expensive to have a product recall. Bede died in 735 (well, actually 731). Note: The Millennium is still 4 years away, so stop celebrating !

 In 793, more illegal immigrants arrived on the south coast - this time from Scandanavia. The Immigration Officers sent by King Offa to check their passports failed to return - the Vikings had arrived - and they continued to visit us for the next 200 years to collect their duty free treasures and ransack the odd Church or two.

 As the curtains fell on the last millennium our dear King, Aethelred the Unready was busy raising those damned taxes again as he prepared to fight the next wave of illegal immigrants. Sounds familiar doesn’t it ?

Hosted by www.cuckney.net