Later Medieval Kent, 1220-1540: (Kent History Project)

A comprehensive investigation into Kent in the later middle ages, from its agriculture to religious houses, from ship-building to the parish church. Kent was extremely important in the later middle ages. Its location between London and continental Europe; Thomas Becket's internationally famous shrine; its ancient Cinque Ports; and the early development of new religious ideas all make its history in this period particularly fascinating. The essays collected here present the fruits of new research into a wide range of topics, offering insights into all the most important aspects of life at the time. Thevolume opens with a major survey of Kent's economic history and development during the period in question; subsequent chapters consider agriculture; ship-building; the Kentish nobility and their role in regional and national politics; religious houses; heresy; magic; and the parish church. Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh teaches in the Department of English, University of Kent. Contributors: Mavis Mate, Bruce Campbell, Gillian Draper, Peter Fleming, David Grummitt, Malcolm Mercer, Barry Dobson, Elizabeth Edwards, Sheila Sweetinburgh, Robert Lutton, Karen Jones

Table of Contents:
Introduction - Sheila Sweetinburgh The Economy of Kent, 1200-1500: An Age of Expansion, 1200-1348 - Mavis Mate The Economy of Kent, 1200-1500: The Aftermath of the Black Death - Mavis Mate Agriculture in Kent in the High Middle Ages - Timber and Iron: Natural Resources for the Late Medieval Shipbuilding Industry in Kent - Gillian M. Draper The Religious Houses of Kent, 1220-1540 - Barrie Dobson and Elizabeth Edwards The Hospitals of Medieval Kent - Sheila Sweetinburgh Kentish Towns: Urban Culture and the Church in the Later Middle Ages - Sheila Sweetinburgh Heresy and Heterodoxy in Late Medieval Kent - Rob Lutton Witchcraft and Magic in Kent, 1396-1543 - Karen Jones The Landed Elite, 1300-1500 - Peter W Fleming Kent and National Politics, 1399-1461 - David Grummitt Kent and National Politics, 1461-1509 - Malcolm Mercer

About the Author :
Sheila Sweetinburgh is a Principal Research Fellow in the Centre for Kent History and Heritage at Canterbury Christ Church University and editor of Early Medieval Kent, 800-1220 (Boydell, 2016) and Later Medieval Kent, 1220-1540 (Boydell, 2018). Sheila Sweetinburgh is a Principal Research Fellow in the Centre for Kent History and Heritage at Canterbury Christ Church University and editor of Early Medieval Kent, 800-1220 (Boydell, 2016) and Later Medieval Kent, 1220-1540 (Boydell, 2018). PETER FLEMING is Professor Emerius,University of the West of England. Elizabeth Edwards is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Kent and was from 1994-2007 Director of the Kentish Regional and Local History degree programme.

Review :
This is an excellent book in this multi-faceted series which should be read by anyone interested in the history of the county and hopefully purchased. This splendid collection of essays offers a stimulating overview of the economic, social, religious and political history of Kent. [...] The editor is to be congratulated for assembling a fascinating new study that will readily appeal to students and scholars alike. [L]ater Medieval Kent makes a notable contribution to our understanding of both regional and national life over three centuries and confirms the enduring relevance of local studies in the writing of English medieval history. The level of scholarship is uniformly high... the texts are also very (and often exceedingly) well-written... This is therefore an excellent book, not only for those who are already historians, but also those drawn to the subject via family or one-name studies, as well as archaeologists and medieval buildings specialists... If you wish to know what documentary evidence can tell us about life in medieval Kent, this new book is highly recommended as the best place to start: a fine contribution to the Kent History Project series.