The study of monasteries has come a long way since late the late 19th century. The emphasis has shifted away from reconstructing the layouts of monastic buildings to a better understanding of the wider monastic environment. The papers in this volume, partly based on a conference held in Oxford in 1994, are written by some of today's foremost scholars and reflect the diversity of research now being carried out.

Mick Graham, acclaimed artist and veteran soldier of the Royal Tank Regiment, has been interested in tanks his whole life. As a young lad in the late 1960s he used to play on the obsolete Bundeswehr M47s and M48s heading down range at Hohne, Germany, where his father was stationed. He went on to fire at these same ‘hard targets’ as a Chieftain tank gunner in the early 1980s. Always cherishing these moments, he dabbled in painting during his military career but never felt his work was anyth...

The five Tudor monarchs – Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I – were some of the most influential rulers in British history. This volume explores all aspects of life in the Tudor age, from life at court (and at the grand country estates where Queen Elizabeth paused during her famous 'progresses') to the day-to-day activities at the teeming taverns and plague-ridden cities of the Tudor kingdom. With chapters on the people, palaces and pastimes of the ag...

This ebook edition does not include illustrations.As he did in ‘Britain B.C.’ and ‘Britain A.D.’, eminent archaeologist Francis Pryor challenges familiar historical views of the Middle Ages by examining fresh evidence from the ground.The term 'Middle Ages' suggests a time between two other ages: a period when nothing much happened. In his radical reassessment, Francis Pryor shows that this is incorrect and that the Middle Ages were actually the time when the modern world wa...

Using wide-ranging evidence, Martyn Whittock shines a light on Britain in the Middle Ages, bringing it vividly to life in this fascinating new portrait that brings together the everyday and the extraordinary.Thus we glimpse 11th-century rural society through a conversation between a ploughman and his master.The life of Dick Whittington illuminates the rise of the urban elite. The stories of Roger 'the Raker' who drowned in his own sewage, a 'merman' imprisoned in Orford Cas...

Publisher's NoteIn 1998, Breedon Publishing produced Exploring Durham History by Philip Nixon and Denis Dunlop.For the purposes of publishing this title as an e-book, it has been divided into three smaller, more specific areas so that the reader can pick and choose the individual part of the book that most attracts their interest without having to purchase the whole title in its entirety.Each of the three e-books include from the original title:· the Introduction· th...

In the Middle Ages monasteries were among the greatest owners of land in Britain; today their influence on the landscape can be seen not only in the magnificent monastic ruins, but also in earthworks, patterns of landholding and even industrial remains. Mick Aston examines the place of monasteries in the landscape - how they affected and were affected by the countryside in which they were built. He explains how monasticism arrived in Britain - growing from austere beginnings to rich and po...

A fascinating glimpse into the world of Medieval Monasticism.Durham Cathedral is one of the most complete sets of monastic buildings in Europe, housing clues to the life of a prominent and thriving medieval Benedictine community.Through its buildings, and the books, treasures and records housed within, the world of Durham’s monastic past comes alive once more, offering clues to the history of this vital Norman stronghold, and providing a critical exemplar o...

Our capital city has always been a thriving and colourful place, full of diverse and determined individuals developing trade and finance, exchanging gossip and doing business. Abandoned by the Romans, rebuilt by the Saxons, occupied by the Vikings and reconstructed by the Normans, London would become the largest trade and financial centre, dominating the world in later centuries. London has always been a brilliant, vibrant and eclectic place – Henry V was given a triumphal procession there...

Exploring North Yorkshire's History - is a journey through the wonderfully varied landscape of North Yorkshire, and examines its rich history through contemporary colour photographs and words. North Yorkshire is England's largest county and being almost 100 miles wide and 65 miles long offers some of the country's most stunning scenery, from the breathtaking east coastline to the fabulous National Parks. Many of the areas we will explore throughout our journey have been designated Areas of...

The Black Death of 1348–49 may have killed more than 50% of the European population. This book examines the impact of this appalling disaster on England's most populous city, London. Using previously untapped documentary sources alongside archaeological evidence, a remarkably detailed picture emerges of the arrival, duration and public response to this epidemic and subsequent fourteenth-century outbreaks. Wills and civic and royal administration documents provide clear evi...

Walks Through History Kent, is a celebration of the beauty and poetry of the county. Here is just one of the walks in the book in case you are on a day trip or just want to sample the style of the walks before buying the whole book. Each walk in this book has been chosen not only because it is a pleasant walk in its own right, but also because it goes past sites which reveal the rich and varied history of the county. Each walk is arranged chronologically, and has a major historical theme. ...