The primary is your fermentation bucket.
In days of yore brewers would do a first fermentation in a wide mouth type bucket or cask with nothing or nearly nothing covering it,after the initial very active fermentation ceased they would rack(move) the beer to another(usually a carboy) vessel to complete fermentation.This method is still used but not as much as before,the theory being that the extra contact when using a secondary puts the wort at risk to infection.Nigel I thinks it's great how you just closed your eyes and jumped into AG brewing.Keep it up!However you should really get some of the great brewing books available out there and study up on the basics of brewing,it will serve you well in your coming adventures in the hobby.

You probably wont need more than a week or two in primary with a good strong English yeast fermentation