Five English medieval towns

Each of the Five Towns will offer different insights into English mediaeval life. Colchester became a military town with the Romans, who’s impact remains visible on the urban fabric today. Though Imperial urbanism was followed by decline, maybe even disappearance for a time, Anglo-Saxon Colchester emerged from the ruins, with some standing architecture to be seen. The Conquest of 1066 brought about a major regeneration with the building of a great castle, perhaps the largest of its day, and new abbeys and priories and a whole new influx of people. Even today, Colchester has a strong military presence.  

Though large in Roman times, Canterbury became synonymous with the Church. The archbishops, monasteries and friaries taking second place to Pilgrimage. The Shrine of Becket was one of Europe’s greatest and most visited. Today, the architectural evidence is everywhere despite Reformers and Puritans.    

Norwich was long England’s second city and that generates its own economy. Merchant wealth is evident in its 50 or so churches, large town residences and some surviving commercial buildings. Of course, it also has a cathedral, a castle, medieval hospital etc.  

Cambridge was Roman and Anglo-Saxon. The Normans built a castle, a priory and a nunnery but the bare bones of the town were already there, focused on the old Roman crossing. Then came the University. The pursuit of education saw the blossoming of Collegiate institutions, first and few then something of a tsunami. What happened to the urban fabric is hard to explain but will not stop us looking.  

Lynn, founded as Bishop’s Lynn, was a total invention of the late eleventh century. How did that work. Did it work? Lynn became one of England’s most successful ports, its trade generated almost entirely upon its geographical position. Somebody was going to invent King’s Lynn. The town has remained successful yet still preserves its sense of merchant venturer wealth, helped no doubt by its links with the Hanseatic League, who’s Cantor building remains today.    

Five mediaeval towns, five different stories. 

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for this course are:

• To better understand the revival of urban life in England following the fall of the Roman Empire  
• To appreciate the variety of economic drivers that determined the success or failure of a town.
• To see how ‘normal life’ was conducted in the English Middle Ages.

Classes

1. Colchester  
2. Canterbury  
3. Norwich  
4. Cambridge  
5. King’s Lynn 

Typical week: Monday to Friday

For each week of study you select a morning (Am) and an afternoon (Pm) course, each course has five sessions, one each day Monday to Friday. The maximum class size is 25 students. Your weekly courses are complemented by a series of two daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.

Evaluation and Academic Credit 

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses. 

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £65 per essay.

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically within a week of your courses finishing.