Why didn't you use boat to move your settler to Scotland? It is faster.
Then, spreading of christianity is very important: cities with state religion build faster.
So, monastery and missionaries ASAP.
I prefer to settle Manchester than Newcastle: Manchester allows boats to move from North Sea to Irish Sea, very useful for your other target of sinking enemy boats.
At last forges are not so important for England, with all those woods to work.
Research is the key for English, so libraries.