The wandering herd : the medieval cattle economy of south-east England, c. 450-1450 / Andrew Margetts.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Margetts, Andrew, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cattle--Economic aspects--England, South East--History--To 1500.

Cattle.

Cattle trade--England, South East--History--To 1500.

Cattle trade.

Agriculture--England, South East--History--To 1500.

Agriculture.

Cattle--Economic aspects.

History.

England--England, South East.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xviii, 272 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps (some color) ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; Havertown, PA : Windgather Press, 2021.

Summary:

The British countryside is on the brink of change. With the withdrawal of EU subsidies, threats of US style factory farming and the promotion of 'rewilding' initiatives, never before has so much uncertainty and opportunity surrounded our landscape. How we shape our prospective environment can be informed by bygone practice, as well as through engagement with livestock and landscapes long since vanished. This study will examine aspects of pastoralism that occurred in part of medieval England. It will suggest how we learn from forgotten management regimes to inform, shape and develop our future countryside. This book represents a deep, multi-disciplinary study of the cattle economy over the longue duree of the Middle Ages, especially its importance within the evolution of medieval society, settlement and landscape. It explores the nature and presence of vaccaries, a high status form of specialised cattle ranch. They produced beef stock, milk and cheese and the draught oxen necessary for medieval agriculture. Whilst they are most often associated with wild northern uplands they also existed in lowland landscapes and areas of Forest and Chase. Nationally, medieval cattle have been one of the most important and neglected aspects of the agriculture of the medieval period. As part of both a mixed and specialised farming economy they have helped shaped the countryside we know today.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Other Format:

Electronic version: MARGETTS, ANDREW. WANDERING HERD.

ISBN:

1911188798

9781911188797

OCLC:

1196245040