The Medieval Fenland

This 1940 book, together with its companion volume, constitutes an attempt to outline the changing conditions of a fascinating region.

H. C. Darby (Author)

9781107614987, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 August 2011

230 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.3 cm, 0.3 kg

Originally published in 1940, this book, together with its companion volume The Draining of the Fens, constitutes an attempt to outline the changing conditions of a fascinating region. The text is ambitious in scope, reflecting the author's position as a historical geographer, and covers a broad range of disciplinary perspectives, ranging from geology to socio-economic analysis. Numerous illustrative figures are contained, including maps, diagrams and photographs of the area, and a bibliography is also provided. Detailed, yet highly readable, this book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Fenland history and historical geography in general.

Editor's preface
Preface
List of maps and diagrams
List of plates
Part I. Introduction: The Pre-Domesday Fenland: 1. Note on Roman literary evidence
Part II. Occupations: 2. Marsh production
3. Agricultural activity
4. Meadow, pasture and turbary
5. Note on the Crowland siputes
Part III. Communications: 6. Fen waterways
7. Fen causeways
Part IV. The Changing Prosperity of the Fenland: 8. Domesday statistics
9. Fourteenth-century statistics
10. Two hundred and fifty years' change
11. The social consequences of Fen economy
Part V. The Care of Banks and Channels: 12. Complaints and disputes
13. The commission of sewers
14. The fifteenth century
Sources and bibliography
Appendix: report of a commission of sewers held at Wisbech in 1438
Index.

Subject Areas: Historical geography [HBTP]