Medieval Westminster, 1200-1540 / Gervase Rosser.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rosser, Gervase.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cities and towns, Medieval--England--London--History.

Cities and towns, Medieval.

History.

Westminster (London, England)--History.

Westminster (London, England).

London (England)--History--To 1500.

London (England).

England--Civilization--1066-1485.

England.

Civilization.

England--London.

Physical Description:

xvii, 425 pages : illustrations ; 23 m

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1989.

Summary:

This unique look at the town of Westminster is a study of the nature of the urban community in the late Middle Ages. As a small town, characterized by a complex economy and society but lacking legal incorporation, Westminster typified the large yet neglected class of medieval urban centers. Rosser here examines the forces that existed to contain tensions and ensure continuity in the community. The regular expressions of shared interests and common identity--in local government, parochial life, and the activities of guilds--are shown to be essential to the survival of the town. A valuable contribution to the study of the social and economic history of the late Middle Ages, this work will be of interest to students of late medieval economic and social history as well as to urban historians.

Contents:

1. The Making of a Royal Capital, to 1300 9

1. Before 1200 9

2. The Thirteenth Century 16

2. The King's Capital, 1300-1540 35

3. Landlords, Tenants, and Houses 43

2. The Abbey Estate 45

3. The Reduced Density of Settlement in the Mid-Fifteenth Century 80

4. Monastic and Private Enterprise in the Late Medieval Expansion 81

5. Motives for Urban Property Holding 92

4. Fairs and Markets 97

1. The Great Fair of St Edward 97

2. The Little Fair of St Peter 115

3. The Monday Market 116

5. Occupations 119

2. Alehouses, Taverns, and Inns 122

3. Victualling 133

4. Prostitution 143

5. Clothing and Leather Trades 145

6. Metalworking 148

7. Building Trades 150

8. Commerce in the Sanctuary 155

9. Service in Court and Cloister 158

10. Conclusion: Retailing in the Urban Economy 161

6. Population and Society 167

1. The Size of the Population 167

2. The Origin of the Population 182

3. Women 196

4. Professional Services: Law, Medicine, and Government 201

5. Education and Books 207

6. Amusements 215

7. The Margins of Society 217

8. The Distribution of Wealth 221

9. Conclusion: A Diverse and Unequal Society 225

7. Urban Government 226

1. Introduction: What is a Town? 226

2. The Lordship of the Abbot 229

3. The Manor Court as Urban Government 232

8. The Religion of the Lay Community 251

1. The Parish of St Margaret 251

2. Relations Between Monastery and Parish 255

3. The Rebuilding of the Parish Church, 1485-1525 263

4. Images and Ritual 271

5. The Reformation 275

9. Guilds 281

1. The Social Bonds of Fraternity 281

2. The Guild as Surrogate Town Council 285

10. Charitable Institutions 294

2. The Royal Household 295

3. Westminster Abbey 298

4. The Hospital of St James 300

5. Guild Charities: The Hospital of St Mary Rounceval and Others 310

6. Conclusion: The Transformation of Medieval Charity 321

I. Reeves, Bailiffs, and Sub-bailiffs of Westminster, c1150-c.1540 328

II. Curates of St Margaret's Parish Church, Westminster, c.1200-1556 335

III. The Financial Value of St Margaret's Vicarage, 1291-1549 341

IV. Revenues of the Obedientiaries of Westminster Abbey Holding Rents in the Town of Westminster, 1350-1530 342

V. Tenants and Subtenants of Six Properties in King Street, c.1530 345

VI. Places in the British Isles Occurring in the Names of Property Holders in Westminster Before 1350 349

VII. An Account by the Abbot of the Government of Westminster, c.1511 362

VIII. Office-holders in Westminster, c.1350-1540 366.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

0198201567 :

OCLC:

19624010