Beyond the Medieval Village: The Diversification of Landscape Character in Southern Britain (Medieval History and Archaeology)

The varied character of Britain's countryside and towns provides communities with a strong sense of local identity. One of the most significant features of the southern British landscape is the way that its character differs from region to region, with compact villages in the Midlands contrasting with the sprawling hamlets of East Anglia and isolated farmsteads of Devon. Even more remarkable is the very ''English'' feel of the landscape in southern Pembrokeshire, in the far south west of Wales. Hoskins described the English landscape as ''the richest historical record we possess,'' and in this book Stephen Rippon explores the origins of regional variations in landscape character, arguing that while some landscapes date back to the centuries either side of the Norman Conquest, other areas across southern Britain underwent a profound change around the 8th century AD. The varied character of Britain's countryside provides communities with a strong sense of local identity. One of the most significant features of the landscape in Southern Britain is the way that its character differs from region to region, with compact villages in the Midlands contrasting with the sprawling hamlets of East Anglia and isolated farmsteads of Devon. Even more remarkable is the very 'English' feel of the landscape in southern Pembrokeshire, in the far south west of Wales. Hoskins described the English landscape as 'the richest historical record we possess', and in this volume Stephen Rippon explores the origins of regional variations in landscape character, arguing that while some landscapes date back to the centuries either side of the Norman Conquest, other areas across southern Britain underwent a profound change around the 8th century AD. "Hoskins described the English landscape as 'the richest historical record we possess', and in this book Stephen Rippon explores the origins of regional variations in landscape character, arguing that while some landscapes date back to the centuries either side of the Norman Conquest, other areas across southern Britain underwent a profound change around the 8th century AD."--BOOK JACKET Stephen Rippon Explores The Origins Of Regional Variations In The Character Of The Landscape Of Southern Britain, Arguing That While Some Landscapes Date Back To The Centuries Either Side Of The Norman Conquest, Other Areas Across Southern Britain Underwent A Profound Change Around The 8th Century Ad. Stephen Rippon. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [269]-311) And Index.