The communities of the manor of Epworth in the seventeenth century
The manor of Epworth in the Isle of Axholme experienced protracted resistance to drainage and enclosure schemes in the seventeenth century. The thesis places the disputes in the context of the wider social and economic development of the manor during the period, while also comparing the experiences of the manor's member parishes. The history of the drainage is outlined in the introduction. Chapter one surveys the economy and demographic history of the manor, concluding that the wealth of local resources and flexible agrarian system protected the manor from subsistence crises. In chapter two, wills, church court records and parish registers are used to investigate marriage and the role of family, neighbours and kin in forming and sustaining households. The third chapter makes use of wills to examine inheritance strategies as a means of providing for the perpetuation of viable households. Inheritance patterns varied with wealth and proved an important mechanism for social mobility in the manor. Chapter four shows how the flexibility of the manor's economy and inheritance strategies allowed social mobility, resulting in growing social differentiation and some differences between parishes. The fifth chapter explores
Lloyd, Joy
Enclosure; Social development; Economy; Axholme
The communities of the manor of Epworth in the seventeenth century. The manor of Epworth in the Isle of Axholme experienced protracted resistance to drainage and enclosure schemes in the seventeenth century. The thesis places the disputes in the context of the wider social and economic development of the manor during the period, while also comparing the experiences of the manor's member parishes. The history of the drainage is outlined in the introduction. Chapter one surveys the economy and demographic history of the manor, concluding that the wealth of local resources and flexible agrarian system protected the manor from subsistence crises. In chapter two, wills, church court records and parish registers are used to investigate marriage and the role of family, neighbours and kin in forming and sustaining households. The third chapter makes use of wills to examine inheritance strategies as a means of providing for the perpetuation of viable households. Inheritance patterns varied with wealth and proved an important mechanism for social mobility in the manor. Chapter four shows how the flexibility of the manor's economy and inheritance strategies allowed social mobility, resulting in growing social differentiation and some differences between parishes. The fifth chapter explores
community manor manor isle experience protract resistance drainage enclosure scheme place dispute context_wider social_economic development manor period also compare experience manor member parish history drainage outline introduction survey economy demographic history manor conclude wealth local_resource flexible agrarian system protect manor subsistence crisis will church_court record parish register use_investigate marriage role family neighbours kin form sustain household third make_use will examine inheritance strategy mean provide perpetuation viable household inheritance pattern vary wealth prove important mechanism social_mobility manor show flexibility manor economy inheritance strategy allow social_mobility result grow social_differentiation difference parish fifth explores