England

**England** was a nation and, since the early 18th century, a constituent country of the United Kingdom on Earth. (TV: *The Highlanders*)

Frequently visited by the Doctor, (TV: *Fury from the Deep*) it was also their temporary home on a number of occasions, (TV: "An Unearthly Child") as well as the location of their Time Lord-imposed exile. (TV: *Spearhead from Space*)

Many of the Doctor's companions hailed from England — or at least embarked on their journeys in the Doctor's TARDIS from there — beginning with Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton (TV: "An Unearthly Child") and continuing on through to Lena Haigh. (TV: *Subjects of War*) Only a few human companions expressed antipathy towards the country, most of whom were not themselves English. The most notable case was Jamie McCrimmon. (TV: *The Highlanders*)

England was frequently the subject to various alien invasions, attacks, plans, intergalactic battles, experiments or conspiracies, particularly throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. UNIT operated throughout the country. (TV: *The Dalek Invasion of Earth*, *The Invasion*)

England was also the main base of operations for Sarah Jane Smith. (TV: *A Girl's Best Friend*)

## Geography

England was separated from the mainland of Europe by the English Channel. (TV: *The Sea Devils*)

The capital of England was London, which, according to Captain Maitland, ceased to exist as an entity by the 24th century, and by the 28th century, had along with the lower half of England become a part of Central City. (TV: "Strangers in Space")

## Influence on the Doctor

The majority of the Doctor's visits to England followed the creation of the United Kingdom, but they still visited the country many times prior to this. (TV: *The Time Meddler*, *The Visitation, The King's Demons*, *Silver Nemesis*, *The Domesday Book,* PROSE: *Doctor Who and the Invasion from Space*) Of all the countries in the UK, it was England that influenced the Doctor the most. They adopted much of its customs, dress, and other cultural elements. Many of the Doctor's companions were English. (TV: *An Unearthly Child* onwards)

While the Doctor's accent in most of their incarnations were English, the Seventh Doctor spoke with a Scottish accent. (TV: *Time and the Rani*)

## History

### Norman Conquest

On 5 January 1066, King of England, Edward the Confessor, died childless and with no heir to the throne. When Edward died, there were three major claimants. The two most important were Harold Godwinson, the Saxon leader and the Earl of Wessex, and William of Normandy, a Norman and Duke of Normandy. He was Edward's cousin and his only blood relative of the claimants. He also alleged that Edward had promised him the throne in 1051.

When Edward died, Harold was crowned king becoming Harold II, something which angered William into assembling a fleet comprising Normans, Frenchmen, Flemish and Sicilians among others. The Pope gave a papal banner to show his support. (PROSE: *The Domesday Book*)

The Monk attempted to prevent the Norman victory by destroying a fleet of ships off the Northumbrian coast, but was stopped by the First Doctor. (TV: *The Time Meddler*)

The Battle of Hastings took place on 14 October 1066. During the battle, the Normans tricked the Saxon army into the open and showered them with arrows. Harold was killed in the battle and the English were defeated. According to legend, Harold was killed by an arrow to the eye. Motte and Bailey castles were set up across England before and after the battle. (TV: *The Domesday Book*)

After the conquest, the Normans created the Bayeux Tapestry. The tapestry was later added to, showing other events from England's history. (TV: *The Power of Kroll*)

William commissioned a survey of the country in 1086 in order to record his fiscal rights. The survey was carried out in almost all areas of the country. At the settlement of Valeham, the Tremas Master attempted to use his disguise as Norman baron Michael of Sarte to take control of the country. He made a deal with the inherently mischievous Shahar to create unrest throughout the country and start an uprising against William. This plan was stopped by the Eighth Doctor and Bernice Summerfield, with the Shahar being permanently trapped inside the books that eventually made up the completed Domesday Book. (TV: *The Domesday Book*)

William died in 1087. (PROSE: *Vampire Science*)

### Middle Ages

#### 12th Century

In the late 12th century, King Richard I personally participated in the Third Crusade, leading troops in the Holy Land. (TV: *The Crusade*) As he did so, John, his younger brother, ruled England in his stead. (TV: *Invasion of the Dinosaurs*)

#### 13th Century

While the real King John was in London taking the Crusader's Oath on 4 March 1215, the android Kamelion was being used in a plot by the Tremas Master to sabotage Earth history by preventing King John's signing of the Magna Carta, an event pivotal to the development of parliamentary democracy on that planet. The plot was foiled by the intervention of the Fifth Doctor. (TV: *The King's Demons*)

John was also notable for having lost the British Crown Jewels in the Wash in 1216. (TV: *The King's Demons*) He was succeeded by his son Henry III. (PROSE: *The King's Demons*)

#### 17th Century

Charles I ruled for eleven years without regard for the Parliament, ultimately causing the English Civil War, which lasted from 1641 to 1651. Lady Peinforte was a supporter of Charles I. (TV: *Silver Nemesis*)

## Sport

Cricket was popular within small communities who often had a village team. (TV: *Black Orchid*)

Other sports were popular within England. It had a long heritage of golf players and the sport was often played with great seriousness. (TV: *The Sea Devils*)