An historical and geographical study of the small towns of Shropshire, 1600-1830
The thesis begins with a brief historiographical survey establishing the rationale for research into the role of small towns in the early modem English economy. The spatial dimension of the Shropshire urban system is then analysed employing Christaller central place methodology. Databases for 1797 and 1828 are derived from directory sources and supplemented by information on the transport and market infrastructures and their services to examine centrality, function, connectivity and nodality by hierarchical ranking. The second part of the thesis develops occupational and sectoral classification systems to delineate the economic parameters of the urban system. The sectoral structure of the small towns at the benchmark dates of 1797 and 1828 is analysed and a typology of the urban system is developed from the demographic and economic data. The final part provides case studies of six small towns: Bishops Castle, Bridgnorth, Broseley, Ludlow, Much Wenlock and Oswestry. Benchmark estimates derived from probate inventories, occupational and fiscal data are used to analyse the composition and rate of growth of output by sector, and to create time series from the early seventeenth to the early nineteenth centuries.
Lewis, Sarah Anne
History
An historical and geographical study of the small towns of Shropshire, 1600-1830. The thesis begins with a brief historiographical survey establishing the rationale for research into the role of small towns in the early modem English economy. The spatial dimension of the Shropshire urban system is then analysed employing Christaller central place methodology. Databases for 1797 and 1828 are derived from directory sources and supplemented by information on the transport and market infrastructures and their services to examine centrality, function, connectivity and nodality by hierarchical ranking. The second part of the thesis develops occupational and sectoral classification systems to delineate the economic parameters of the urban system. The sectoral structure of the small towns at the benchmark dates of 1797 and 1828 is analysed and a typology of the urban system is developed from the demographic and economic data. The final part provides case studies of six small towns: Bishops Castle, Bridgnorth, Broseley, Ludlow, Much Wenlock and Oswestry. Benchmark estimates derived from probate inventories, occupational and fiscal data are used to analyse the composition and rate of growth of output by sector, and to create time series from the early seventeenth to the early nineteenth centuries.
historical_geographical study small_town shropshire begin_brief historiographical survey establish rationale role small_town early_modem english economy spatial dimension shropshire urban system analyse employ central place methodology databases derive directory source supplement information transport market infrastructure service examine centrality function connectivity hierarchical ranking second_part develop occupational sectoral classification_system delineate economic parameter urban system sectoral structure small_town benchmark date analyse typology urban system develop demographic_economic data final_part provide case_study small_town bishops castle much benchmark estimate derive probate inventory occupational fiscal data_use analyse composition rate growth output sector create time_series