The Medieval Peasant House in Midland England - Tapa blanda

This is a major step forward in vernacular studies. -- Ancient Monuments Society Newsletter Ancient Monuments Society Newsletter There is insufficient space here to do justice to the overall importance of this volume, which undoubtedly demonstrates the way forward for regional vernacular studies. There is so much that is of significance within this one volume that all those interested in the subject will be compelled to read the analysis chapters several times. It will undoubtedly be adopted as a key reference work. -- Antiquaries Journal Antiquaries Journal This long-awaited study of 'surviving' medieval peasant houses has, at its core, the architectural and dendrochronological survey of almost 120 houses in four Midland counties (Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire). It is, however, much more than a compilation of building surveys: the thoughtful introductory chapters and essays give it substantial intellectual value; and the numerous colour figures (well-chosen photographs and high-quality drawings) make it a pleasure to browse. -- Landscape History Landscape History This is an important book, which sets out the evidence for a range of surviving houses, drawing out what is common or rare in the Midland region, and placing the findings in a wider context. The authors have also raised a number of issues that need now to be tested in other regions as the study of the medieval peasant house moves towards a national synthesis. -- Oxoniensia Oxoniensia This is a massively detailed and lavishly illustrated exploration of the results of a study of 118 medieval-dated houses standing in the English Midlands: in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, Oxford, and Warwick, with a few also in Gloucester and Nottinghamshire...This volume is recommended for anyone interested in the details of medieval peasant life in the study region and will be of particular interest to scholars interested in the evolution of domestic space and family life. -- JOHN P. MCCARTHY International Journal of Regional and Local History

The aim of this lavishly illustrated book is to provide an in-depth study of the many medieval peasant houses still standing in Midland villages, and of their historical context. In particular, the combination of tree-ring and radiocarbon dating, detailed architectural study and documentary research illuminates both their nature and their status. The results are brought together to provide a new and detailed view of the medieval peasant house, resolving the contradiction between the archaeological and architectural evidence, and illustrating how its social organisation developed in the period before we have extensive documentary evidence for the use of space within the house.