This lecture focuses on the evidence for the major national roads of England and Wales in the late middle ages and the key destinations they linked, including accounts from contemporary travellers, itineraries, maps, and the surviving bridges. It pinpoints the major cities and towns which the roads connected as well as and great monastic houses, palaces and castles in use in the period 1450-1500, also marking historic battlefields—many clustered along the main vital north-south routes. The map opens a window into the structure of power and wealth, for example showing how London dominated the realm, while most of today’s great industrial cities of the North and Midlands were insignificant, and stresses the importance of the church through the wealth of monasteries and bishops, revealed in their many ‘palaces’ and houses.’
Related: BAA news post for details of Dr Harrison’s publication.