Lordship and Medieval Urbanisation: Coventry, 1043-1355 (Royal Historical Society Studies in History New Series) Book

In his analysis of Coventry's spectacular process of urbanisation between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries, Dr Goddard reveals a distinct profile for the city's physical development and commercial growth. His book begins with an examination of the Domesday evidence for the community at Coventry. It then goes on to look at the mechanisms for growth in Coventry during the twelfth century, and focuses on the role that Coventry's lords (lay and monastic) played in developing the the city and its economy. Part two of the book then looks at Coventry in the thirteenth century, examining issues surrounding migration to and from the city, the occupational structure within Coventry, and the urban land market. Part three takes the story of Coventry's development into the fourteenth century, tackling the topics of trade, manufacturing, occupation and revisiting the theme of the urban land market. Making extensive use of the city's rich documentation, this study presents the reader with a closely argued analysis of the stages by which Coventry developed from its origins in the Anglo-Saxon past to a vibrant and wealthy urban community on the eve of the Black Death. It thus deepens our understanding of the processes by which medieval urban communities were formed and developed.Read More