Medieval Birmingham: People and Places, 1070-1553, attempts to show through documentary and archaeological evidence how it evolved from a village into its present role as the second city of the United Kingdom. It looks at the lives of the Bermingham family, who owned the town and ruled the townsmen. It looks at their retinue, who held surrounding manors in the area. It tells of the various wars both served in - civil and overseas. The medieval period was a time when the Christian church had great power, and its role in the manor is told, examining the canons of the priory, the friars and the parish priests. Probably the most important element were the inhabitants of the town, for it was they that built it up through trade, and their lives, occupations and physical surroundings form the final section of the book.
Recenzijas
'...the book draws on a substantial body of knowledge regarding medieval Birmingham, and presents genuinely innovative research into the landscape and topography of the manor' David Spice (2023): Worcestershire Recorder Autumn 2023
Preface ;
Introduction ;
Part One: Bermingham and its Lords ;
Chapter One: In the beginning ;
Chapter Two: The lords of Bermingham in England and Ireland ;
Chapter Three: The medieval estates of the de Bermingham family ;
Chapter Four: The fighting men of Bermingham ;
Part Two: The manor and church of Bermingham ;
Chapter Five: The medieval manor of Bermingham ;
Chapter Six: The Priory and Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr ;
Chapter Seven: St Martins Church ;
Part Three: Life in the town and country ;
Chapter Eight: Life in the town ;
Chapter Nine: Work and Trades in Bermingham ;
Chapter Ten: High days and low days ;
Conclusion ;
Bibliography
John Hemingway took a Bachelor of Education degree at Worcester before becoming a history teacher at a preparatory school. He changed his career, becoming an archaeologist, and worked in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands. He chaired the day school for CBA West Midlands for many years, giving many presentations in the region and writing articles, chiefly relating to his work. On retiring he took a doctoral degree at the University of Birmingham.
