Urban Hierarchy and Functions in the East Midlands in the Late Middle Ages, 1300-1550

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The aims of the project were to : 1. establish the broad pattern of the urban hierarchy in the East Midlands in the late Middle Ages 2. identify from a small sample of communities the principal economic, social and environmental markers for different levels within the urban hierarchy of late medieval towns; also where possible to identify demographic and economic fluctuations 3. identify linkages between towns and between town and countryside in the late Middle Ages 4. generate a new methodological framework to enable the productive application of archaeological evidence to the study of late medieval towns which will be of particular benefit to economic, social and urban historiansMain Topics:The dataset contains information about all towns, proto-towns and commercial centres in the East Midlands in the period 1300-1550, including information about primary sources. It also includes weekly market tolls for Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, 1408-1519. Please note: this study does not include information on named individuals and would therefore not be useful for personal family history research