The History of Hope Bowdler reaches back to the Roman invasion of Britain in 43AD. On the summit of Caer Caradoc there are remains of a fort where it is alleged that Caractacus made his last stand against the Romans. A millennium later another famous rebel led a revolt against the Normans. The rebel was Edric Silvaticus also known as 'Edric the Wild', he was a Saxon that fought against the Normans in the area of Hope Bowdler after the Conquest of 1066. Twenty years later Hope Bowdler is mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086. In the Domesday book Hope Bowdler is known as Fordritishope. In 1201 the name was changed to Hop and then later in 1273 the name was changed again to Hopebulers. It is now called Hope Bowdler because of its association with the Bowdler family. There are a couple reasons why Hope Bowdler's name used to be Fordritishope. This name comes from the Saxon era. The manor in the area was called Hope of Forthred. Another reason why it got its name is because Fordritshope means hope or valley.