ORB: On-line Reference Book for Medieval Studies

Medieval English Towns


The aim of this section of ORB is to provide historical information about cities and towns in England during the Middle Ages, with particular emphasis on medieval boroughs of East Anglia and on social, political and constitutional history. A selection of primary documents (translated into English) relevant to English urban history is included.

The image above is an edited version of a line drawing by Mary Houston, based on an illustration in the Luttrell Psalter, commissioned ca.1325 by a Lincolnshire knight. Although the medieval artist's intent was just to create a generalized representation of a town of that period – with churches, houses, taverns and market square, all surrounded by defensive walls – he may have conjured up mental pictures of Stamford or Lincoln when executing the illumination.

Scout Report Selection




Created: August 29, 1998. Last update: August 30, 2003 © Stephen Alsford, 1998-2003

Encyclopedia | Library | Reference | Teaching | General | Links | Search | About ORB | HOME

The contents of ORB are copyright © 2003 Kathryn M. Talarico except as otherwise indicated herein.