Recapturing early modern English urban defences : York and Kingston-upon-Hull, c.1550-1700
This thesis is an interdisciplinary study of York and Kingston-upon-Hullâs early modern defensive walls from c.1550-1700. It seeks to consider the scope and historical value of studying structures that have either been restored or completely demolished over time. Through the use of extensive archival material and archaeological, historical, architectural and historical archaeological methodology, the thesis hypothesises that a corporationâs urban defences were utilised in the administration of a town or city, the projection of civic authority, formed part of a recognisable and burgeoning civic bureaucracy and were tied up with notions of civic identity. In considering the utilisation of these structures removed from their ostensibly medieval military exigency it is possible to comprehend an urban phenomenon that was ubiquitous throughout England and Europe during the early modern period. To date their study has often been limited to the discussion within the medieval period when they were first constructed. When discussed during the early modern period they are predominantly examined within a European and military context. This considers English urban defences as stylistically and military retrograde examples
Webb, Simon Charles
Recapturing early modern English urban defences : York and Kingston-upon-Hull, c.1550-1700. This thesis is an interdisciplinary study of York and Kingston-upon-Hullâs early modern defensive walls from c.1550-1700. It seeks to consider the scope and historical value of studying structures that have either been restored or completely demolished over time. Through the use of extensive archival material and archaeological, historical, architectural and historical archaeological methodology, the thesis hypothesises that a corporationâs urban defences were utilised in the administration of a town or city, the projection of civic authority, formed part of a recognisable and burgeoning civic bureaucracy and were tied up with notions of civic identity. In considering the utilisation of these structures removed from their ostensibly medieval military exigency it is possible to comprehend an urban phenomenon that was ubiquitous throughout England and Europe during the early modern period. To date their study has often been limited to the discussion within the medieval period when they were first constructed. When discussed during the early modern period they are predominantly examined within a European and military context. This considers English urban defences as stylistically and military retrograde examples
early_modern_english urban defence york interdisciplinary_study york early_modern defensive wall seek consider scope historical value study structure either restore completely time use extensive archival_material archaeological_historical architectural historical_archaeological hypothesise corporation urban defence utilised administration town_city projection civic authority form_part recognisable burgeon civic bureaucracy tie notion civic_identity consider utilisation structure remove ostensibly medieval military exigency possible comprehend urban phenomenon ubiquitous throughout england europe date study often limited discussion within medieval_period first construct discuss predominantly examine within european military context considers english urban defence stylistically military example