The Birth of Modern Britain: A Journey into Britain’s Archaeological Past: 1550 to the Present. Francis Pryor
showing the farming regions of early modern England (1500–1750). From Thirsk, England’s Agricultural Regions and Agrarian History, 1500–1750(1987)
Survey of the Buckinghamshire village of Akeley, based on an enclosure map of 1794. From Jones and Page, Medieval Villages in an English Landscape (2006)
Farm buildings from a design by J. B. Denton of 1879. From the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments 1997, p. 153
Map showing the distribution of landscape parks in East Anglia in the late eighteenth century. From Tom Williamson, ‘Designed Landscapes: The Regional Dimension’, Landscapes, Vol. 5, No. 2, p. 18 (2004). With kind permission of Professor Tom Williamson.
Two idealised plans showing the layout of typical model or estate farms in England around 1750–1800 and 1800–1840. From Wade Martins, The English Model Farm (2002), fig. 1
Two idealised plans showing the layout of typical model or estate farms in England around 1840–1860 and 1860–1900. From Wade Martins, The English Model Farm (2002), fig. 1
General plan of Aston Hall, Birmingham. From Post-Medieval Archaeology, Vol. 42, Pt 1, p. 103 (2008)
Map showing the location of eighty-one planned villages erected between c. 1730 and 1855 in south-west Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway). From Philip, Landscapes, Vol. 6, No. 1, p. 89 (2005)
Map of the drove roads of Scotland. From Haldane, The Drove Roads of Scotland (2008)
The principal long-distance routes in England and Wales in the seventeenth century, prior to the turnpikes. From Wright, Turnpike Roads (1992)
Map of the Grand Union (earlier the Grand Junction) Canal in Northamptonshire
Excavated traces of wooden railway (or ‘waggonway’) lines. Illustration reproduced courtesy of Wrexham County Borough Council.
Map showing the thirty-five major historic towns and cities of England. From Thomas, ‘Mapping the Towns’, Landscapes, Vol. 7, No. 1 (2006), p. 73
Map showing how space within London was organised around 1750. From Short, The South-East, p. 175
Plan of the archaeological evidence for the Rose theatre. From Current Archaeology, No. 124, p. 186
Excavations at Wednesbury Forge, West Midlands. From Belford, British Archaeology, No. 107, p. 33
The Upper Forge at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire. From Belford, British Archaeology, No. 107, p. 34
Exterior view of a Manchester cellar house in Victorian times. From Miller and Wild, A & G Murray and the Cotton Mills of Ancoats, p. 31 (2007)
Flow diagram illustrating the production of cotton textiles. From Miller and Wild, A & G Murray and the Cotton Mills of Ancoats, p. 162 (2007)
Plan showing the organisation of the industrial landscape around the entrance to the Park Level Lead Mine at Killhope, Co. Durham. From Forbes, Lead and Life at Killhope (1987), p. 19
Map showing the development of urban areas (black) and Wombwell Wood (stippled) in the town of Wombwell, South Yorkshire. From Hey and Rodwell, ‘Wombwell’, Landscapes, Vol. 7, No. 2 (2006), p. 25
Drawing of the constructional details of the traditional ‘hovel’ type of updraught bottle kiln. From Post-Med. Arch., Vol. 42, Pt 1, p. 205 (2008)
Plan of the purpose-built grounds surrounding the Quaker asylum at Brislington House, Bristol. From Rutherford, Landscapes, Vol. 5, No. 2 (2004), p. 30
Outline drawing of a later nineteenth century triangular blue cotton neckerchief. From Oleksy, Post-Med. Arch., Vol. 42, Pt 2, p. 293
Hand-carved model boat found in a large void beneath Court 3, Parliament House, Edinburgh. From Oleksy, Post-Med. Arch., Vol. 42, Pt 2, p. 296 (2008)
Map of Harwich Basin in the early eighteenth century. From Post-Med. Arch., Vol. 42, Pt 2, p. 232
The defensive landscape at Landguard Fort, near Harwich, Suffolk. From Meredith, Post-Med. Arch., Vol. 42, Pt 2, p. 235 (2008)
A composite plan, based on contemporary sources showing the main areas of activity at the Norman Cross (Peterborough) ‘Depot’, or prisoner-of-war camp
While every effort has been made to trace the owners of copyright material reproduced herein, the publishers would like to apologise for any omissions and would be pleased to incorporate missing acknowledgements in future editions.
Acknowledgements
FROM THE MOMENT I began this four-volume archaeological history of Britain I knew that, when I ventured outside my own field of expertise in later prehistory, I would have to rely on the cooperation and goodwill of many colleagues. But instead of encountering silence or, worse, resentment, I was astonished by the way medievalist scholars took me under their wing and made the task of writing Britain ad and Britain in the Middle Ages such a pleasure. For the present work I have had to draw on the knowledge of many post-medievalists and yet I have still to detect any impatience with my ceaseless enquiries. Two people who have had to bear the brunt of my curiosity are Drs Marilyn Palmer and Audrey Horning, both colleagues of mine in the School of Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Leicester. They gave me informal seminars, sometimes even without the benefit of lunch, which helped me turn my face in what I hope has proved the right direction. Thank you both: my gratitude knows no bounds.
Michael Douglas, series editor at Time Team, shares my interest in the archaeology of more recent periods and played a major part in arranging the excavation of the Risehill navvy camp, North Yorkshire, and the Norman Cross prisoner-of-war Depot, Peterborough. While in Yorkshire, Bill Bevan was a great source of references and advice. At Norman Cross, Ben Robinson, the Peterborough City Archaeologist, was as ever amiable and authoritative, and Dr Henry Chapman, the Time Team surveyor, helped me acquire plans of the Norman Cross Depot site in advance of the full publication, which was scheduled to appear after my own manuscript’s deadline. Dr Mike Nevell has been a splendid guide to the world of industrial archaeology. Neil (now Sir Neil) Cossons and David Crossley were a great help when I was first getting interested in industrial archaeology and we all sat on the Ancient Monuments Advisory Committee of English Heritage. Happy days! Another more than helpful friend, who goes back a long time with me, is David Cranstone. David started life as a prehistorian with me at Fengate and is now a leading authority on industrial archaeology in general and salt mines in particular. He kindly gave me several useful hints and references.
At HarperCollins I am grateful to Martin Redfern, who took on Richard Johnson’s mantle, and to Ben Buchan, whose editorial comments have greatly strengthened this book. I am also deeply indebted to Rex Nicholls who drew the line drawings and to the book’s designer. Special thanks too to Sophie Goulden, Ben Buchan, Richard Collins and Geraldine Beare.
I am also grateful to family members who provided me with unexpected information on various topics: Roderick Luis (Crimean War huts) and Nigel Smith (navvies in the North Pennines). Nigel, a bookseller by profession, found me articles and out-of-print books and his elder sister, my wife Maisie, organised my photographic expeditions and managed to sort out the mystery of the two Causey Arches – an example, incidentally, of how the internet can waste time and lead one astray. Heaven alone knows how she has put up with my moods during this four-book marathon. Finally, and despite the best efforts of all of the above, any errors that remain are mine alone.
Dates and Periods
* Strictly speaking this should refer to the Second Boer War. The First Boer War (1880-81) was more a skirmish, which the Boers won.
IntroductionArchaeology and Modern Times
BEFORE