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The urban hierarchy in the later Middle Ages: a study of the East Midlands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2002

Jane Laughton ,
Evan Jones  and
Christopher Dyer
Jane Laughton
Affiliation:
Centre for English Local History, University of Leicester, LE1 7RH
Evan Jones
Affiliation:
Dept of Historical Studies, University of Bristol, BS8 1TB
Christopher Dyer
Affiliation:
Centre for English Local History, University of Leicester, LE1 7RH
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Abstract

The urban hierarchy of an English region in the period 1300–1540 is defined, using both documentary and archaeological evidence. The part of the East Midlands studied – Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland – contained twenty towns. ‘Benchmarks’ for placing towns in the hierarchy are explored, including population, topography, social structure, occupational diversity, marketing and migratory networks, administration, and civic and material culture. The conclusion emphasizes the common urban characteristics of all of the towns studied, the compatibility of written and unwritten evidence, and the stability of the urban system.

Type
Research Article
Information
Urban History , Volume 28 , Issue 3 , December 2001 , pp. 331 - 357
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

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