North-East England, 1569-1625: Governance, Culture and Identity (Regions and Regionalism in History) (Volume 5)

This study of England's north-eastern parts examines counties Durham and Northumberland as well as Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with its central theme the extent to which the county gentry and urban elites possessed a sense of regional identity. It concentrates on these elites' social, political, religious and cultural connections which extended beyond the purely administrative jurisdictions of the county or town. By concentrating on a series of seismic changes in the area - the demise of its great regional magnates, the rapid upsurge of the coal industry and the union of the crowns - it offers a distinctive chronological coverage, from the latter half of the sixteenth century through to the early seventeenth century. Old stereotypes of the north-eastern landed elites as isolated and backward are overturned while their response to state formation reveals their political sophistication. Traditional views of the religious conservatism of the north-eastern parts are reassessed to demonstrate its multi-faceted complexion. And contrasting cultural patterns are analysed, through ballad literature, the cult of St Cuthbert and increasing exposure to metropolitan 'civility', to reveal a series of sub-regions within the north-eastern reaches of the kingdom. Dr DIANA NEWTON is Lecturer in History at the University of Teesside. "This study of England's north-eastern parts examines counties Durham and Northumberland as well as Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with its central theme the extent to which the county gentry and urban elites possessed a sense of regional identity. It concentrates on these elites' social, political, religious and cultural connections which extended beyond the purely administrative jurisdictions of the county or town. By concentrating on a series of seismic changes in the area - the demise of its great regional magnates, the rapid upsurge of the coal industry and the union of the crowns - it offers a distinctive chronological coverage, from the later half of the sixteenth century through to the early seventeenth century. Old stereotypes of the north-eastern landed elites as isolated and backward are overturned while their response to state formation reveals their political sophistication. Traditional views of the religious conservatism of the north-eastern parts are reassessed to demonstrate its multi-faceted complexion. And contrasting cultural patterns are analysed, through ballad literature, the cult of St. Cuthbert and increasing exposure to metropolitan 'civility', to reveal a series of sub-regions within the north-eastern reaches of the kingdom."--BOOK JACKET CONTENTS ......Page 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......Page 8 ABBREVIATIONS ......Page 9 1. Introduction: questions of regional identity......Page 12 2. Elites of and in north-eastern England......Page 33 3. The governance and governors of north-eastern England......Page 55 4. North-east elites and the crisis of border government......Page 77 5. Civil society in north-eastern England......Page 105 6. Religious identities......Page 128 7. Cultural identities......Page 154 8. Conclusion: regional identity and the elites of north-eastern England......Page 174 APPENDIX: Elites of and in the north-eastern counties of England......Page 186 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......Page 192 INDEX ......Page 212 A study of England's north-eastern parts that examines counties Durham and Northumberland as well as Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This book focuses on the extent to which the county gentry and urban elites possessed a sense of regional identity.