This course will introduce students to the origin and development of towns and to various aspects of urban life in England. Comparison will be made between towns to emphasise the varied nature of development.
To study these themes, we will look at the findings of various historians and also at relevant sources which will include maps, newspapers, parish records, taxation lists and trade directories.
Course Programme
10:00 Session 1: Urban Planning in the Middle Ages: how and why did towns emerge?
11:15 Coffee
11:45 Session 2: Towns after the Black Death; sources for the study of medieval towns.
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Session 3: The expansion of urbanisation in the early modern period
15:15 Tea
15:30 Session 4: Contrasting early modern towns
16:45 Day school ends
Course Aims:
- To help students gain an understanding of the foundation and development of towns.
- To place urban local history in its wider national context.
- To introduce students to the use and interpretation of primary sources in pursuing the above aims.
Tutors' biographies
Dr Joanne Sear
Jo lectures in local history for the Institute with a particular emphasis on the late medieval period. She has taught on the 'Introduction to Local History' and 'World of Material Goods' courses for the certificate as well as presenting 'Medieval Towns' at the diploma level and 'Manors' for the MSt in History.
Jo is working on a volume for the Suffolk Records Society on the manorial records of late medieval Newmarket which she is co-authoring with Dr James Davis of Queen's University, Belfast.
She likes to combine a range of approaches and media when presenting and makes particular use of handouts and visual images. She encourages students to ask questions and to debate and always welcomes input and observations. In addition, she is keen to encourage and facilitate students in undertaking their own research and tries hard to identify websites, online tutorials, etc. which can be easily accessed and explored.
Dr Ken Sneath
Ken lectures in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century history and in local history at the Institute. Until his recent retirement, he was also Assistant Director of Studies for Economic History at Peterhouse College, Cambridge. He has supervised on both the History and Economics Tripos and gave the Wolfson Lecture in local history, 'A consumer revolution in Huntingdonshire?' in 2009 (published in The Local Historian, 2011).
He has written four books on the history of Godmanchester. He has also contributed to the forthcoming volume on the Huntingdonshire Hearth Tax scheduled for publication in 2020.
His teaching style might be described as enthusiastic and lavishly illustrated.
Jo and Ken have recently written The Origins of the Consumer Revolution: From Brass Pots to Clocks which is published by Routledge in March 2020:
https://www.routledge.com/The-Origins-of-the-Consumer-Revolution-in-England-From-Brass-Pots-to-Clocks/Sear-Sneath/p/book/9780367341114
Accommodation
Although this is a non-residential course, students requiring accommodation may be able to book B&B at Madingley Hall, as availability permits.
Please contact reservations@madingleyhall.co.uk or +44 (0)1223 746222 for availability and booking enquiries.
Dietary requirements
If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies please inform our Admissions Team on ice.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk or +44 (0)1223 746262 if you have not already advised us of your requirements.
Additional requirements
ICE is committed to providing equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach to equality. We aim to support and encourage under-represented groups, promote an inclusive culture, and value diversity.
Further information about student support.
Course materials
A booklist, course syllabus and detailed timetable are circulated as far as possible in advance of a course. You will receive these documents by email if you have provided us with your email address; please check your spam folder if you have not received these documents. You can also download material from the Documents section at the bottom of this page.
