This is a comprehensive introduction and guide to one of the most important institutions in medieval England and to its substantial archive. It offers a detailed explanation of the form, structure and evolution of the manor and its records with translations of, and commentaries upon, each category of document to illustrate their main features. Examples of each category of record are provided in translation, followed by shorter extracts selected to illustrate interesting, commonly occurring, or complex features

Table of Contents

Preface and acknowledgements PART ONE: THE COMPOSITION AND ORIGINS OF THE MANOR 1. Introduction 2. The characteristics of the medieval manor 3. The size and composition of medieval manors 4. Origins and development of the manor 5. Manorial documents PART TWO: MANORIAL SURVEYS, EXTENTS AND RENTALS 6. Surveys and extents before c.1300 7. Land tenures and personal status on the medieval manor 8. Surveys, rentals and terriers after c.1300 9. Historical uses of surveys and extents PART THREE: MANORIAL ACCOUNTS 10. The management of the manor 11. The format of the account 12. The evolution of the account 13. Historical uses of the account 14. Subsidiary documents of the account PART FOUR: MANOR AND LEET COURTS 15. The manor court 16. The leet court 17. Manor and leet courts after c.1400 18. Historical uses of court rolls 19. Glossary Select bibliography Index

About the Author

Mark Bailey is Headmaster of Leeds Grammar School and a Senior Visiting Lecturer at the University of Leeds

Reviews

'This is an excellent book, with wise and interesting comments in the introductory sections, which are themselves important historical commentaries on the history of farming and societies over three centuries. The documents are very valuable as teaching aides and will be much used by those teaching local history, and in advanced undergraduate teaching.' Professor C. C. Dyer, University of Birmingham