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The name Romsey is believed to have originated from the term Rūm's Eg, meaning "Rūm's area surrounded by marsh". Rūm is probably an abbreviated form of a personal name, like Rūmwald (glorious leader).
The first abbey at Romsey was founded by the Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Elder in 907 for his daughter, Princess Aelflaed, a nun who became the first Abbess of Romsey. King Edgar the Peaceful re-founded the abbey under the Rule of Benedict in 967, appointing as abbess a noblewoman named Merewenna. Merewanna was given charge of King Edgar's step-daughter, Aethelflaed, who later served as abbess herself. Both Merewenna and Aethelflaed are revered as saints.
The village swelled alongside the religious community. The Vikings sacked Romsey in 993 burning down the church. But the village recovered, and the abbey was rebuilt in stone in about 1000. The religious community flourished as a seat of learning, especially for the children of the nobility. A market was established outside the abbey gates.
The Domesday Book of 1086, which identifies three mills in the village, provides the earliest record of the watermills that have played a part in Romsey's history as an industrial
- Type:
- Landmark