The wandering herd : the medieval cattle economy of south-east England, c. 450-1450

The British countryside is on the brink of change. With the withdrawal of EU subsidies, threats of US style factory farming and the promotion of ‘rewilding’ initiatives, never before has so much uncertainty and opportunity surrounded our landscape. How we shape our prospective environment can be informed by bygone practice, as well as through engagement with livestock and landscapes long since vanished. This study will examine aspects of pastoralism that occurred in part of medieval England. It will suggest how we learn from forgotten management regimes to inform, shape and develop our future countryside. The work concerns a region of southern England the pastoral identity of which has long been synonymous with the economy of sheep pasture and the medieval right of swine pannage. These aspects of medieval pastoralism, made famous by iconic images of the South Downs and the evidence presented by Domesday, mask a pastoral heritage in which a significant part was played by cattle. This aspect of medieval pastoralism is traceable in the region’s historic landscape, documentary evidence and excavated archaeological remains. Past scholars of the South-East have been so concerned with the importance of medieval sheep, and to a slightly lesser extent pigs, that no systematic examination of the cattle economy has ever been undertaken. This book represents a deep, multidisciplinary study of the cattle economy over the longue durée of the Middle Ages, especially its importance within the evolution of medieval society, settlement and landscape. It explores the nature and presence of vaccaries, a high status form of specialized cattle ranch. They produced beef stock, milk and cheese and the draught oxen necessary for medieval agriculture. While they are most often associated with wild northern uplands they also existed in lowland landscapes and areas of Forest and Chase. Nationally, medieval cattle have been one of the most important and neglected aspects of the agriculture of the medieval period. As part of both a mixed and specialized farming economy they have helped shape the countryside we know today. Table of Contents List of plates and figures List of tables Abbreviations Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Related medieval landscape research 3. A historical and documentary perspective 4. Place-name 5. Roads, commons, forest and chase 6. Oval enclosures and medieval parks 7. Downland enclosures: ‘valley entrenchments’ 8. Animal bone assemblages 9. Wealden case studies: the Hayworth 10. Discussion 11. Conclusion Bibliography El campo británico está al borde del cambio. Con la retirada de las subvenciones de la UE, las amenazas de la agricultura industrial al estilo estadounidense y la promoción de iniciativas de "rewilding", nunca antes había habido tanta incertidumbre y oportunidades en torno a nuestro paisaje. El modo en que configuramos nuestro futuro entorno puede basarse en las prácticas del pasado, así como en el compromiso con el ganado y los paisajes que ya han desaparecido. Este estudio examinará aspectos del pastoreo que se dio en parte de la Inglaterra medieval. Sugerirá cómo podemos aprender de los regímenes de gestión olvidados para informar, dar forma y desarrollar nuestro campo futuro.Este libro representa un estudio profundo y multidisciplinar de la economía ganadera durante la larga duración de la Edad Media, especialmente su importancia dentro de la evolución de la sociedad, el asentamiento y el paisaje medievales. Explora la naturaleza y la presencia de los vacunos, una forma de ganadería especializada de alto estatus. Producían ganado vacuno, leche y queso y los bueyes de tiro necesarios para la agricultura medieval. Aunque se asocian con mayor frecuencia a las tierras altas del norte, también existieron en los paisajes de las tierras bajas y en las zonas de Forest and Chase. A nivel nacional, el ganado medieval ha sido uno de los aspectos más importantes y olvidados de la agricultura del periodo medieval. Como parte de una economía agrícola tanto mixta como especializada, ha contribuido a dar forma al campo que conocemos hoy en día The British countryside is on the brink of change. With the withdrawal of EU subsidies, threats of US style factory farming and the promotion of 'rewilding' initiatives, never before has so much uncertainty and opportunity surrounded our landscape. How we shape our prospective environment can be informed by bygone practice, as well as through engagement with livestock and landscapes long since vanished. This study will examine aspects of pastoralism that occurred in part of medieval England. It will suggest how we learn from forgotten management regimes to inform, shape and develop our future countryside. This book represents a deep, multi-disciplinary study of the cattle economy over the longue duree of the Middle Ages, especially its importance within the evolution of medieval society, settlement and landscape. It explores the nature and presence of vaccaries, a high status form of specialised cattle ranch. They produced beef stock, milk and cheese and the draught oxen necessary for medieval agriculture. Whilst they are most often associated with wild northern uplands they also existed in lowland landscapes and areas of Forest and Chase. Nationally, medieval cattle have been one of the most important and neglected aspects of the agriculture of the medieval period. As part of both a mixed and specialised farming economy they have helped shaped the countryside we know today A multi-disciplinary study of the cattle economy of south-east England through the Middle Ages, especially its importance within the evolution of medieval society, settlement and landscape.