Information on Loughborough
News Index
2009
Nov 2009Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
Taxing all males over 12 - study of English peasantry opens up new interpretations
Posted on 16/03/09
University of Leicester
A study of taxation over 300 years of English history reveals new insights into the English peasantry.
The study by Matthew Tompkins of the University of Leicester Centre for English Local History analysed a penny tax known as Headsilver. This is a manorial tax by which every male inhabitant of the manor over the age of 12 had to pay the lord a penny every year.
Matthews study focused on Great Horwood, a village in north Buckinghamshire for which unusually detailed manor court rolls have survived.
He said: Medieval peasants are a challenge to academic study because there are so few written records to work with. Most of what we know about them comes from manorial records, principally manor court rolls - but these tend to ignore peasants who did not pay rents and taxes to the lord of the manor, leaving us uncertain as to the true size and nature of the peasant population.
The court rolls of the manor of Great Horwood survive from 1302 until 1925, though my study focuses particularly on the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries - a period chosen to cover the end of the middle ages came and the beginning of the modern period.
By careful analysis of the Great Horwood manor court rolls I have been able to demonstrate as is often suspected but seldom actually proven - that manorial records can indeed conceal substantial numbers of the peasant population.
The Great Horwood court rolls record the number of headsilver pennies paid in most years between 1307 and 1607. This data should, in theory, provide direct evidence of the size of the manors population during those three hundred years, and the effects on it of traumatic events such as the Black Death in 1348.
In my presentation, however, I will question this and consider other possible interpretations of the available evidence.
Matthew will present his research at a Doctoral Inaugural Lecture at the University of Leicester on Wednesday March 18, 5.30pm, in Lecture Theatre 3, Ken Edwards Building.
Latest News
Launceston Road junction improvements begin | |
|---|---|
![]() | Highways, Transportation & Waste Management20 November 2009Launceston Road junction improvements beginWork on a new road layout to ease traffic congestion is starting at a key junction in Wigston next week. The £60,000 improvements to the junction of Station Road and Launceston Road include a new mini roundabout and an extension to the on-pavement cycle lane.... 21 Nov 2009 Launceston Road junction improvements begin |
Accident-reducing road improvements in Hinckley | |
![]() | Highways, Transportation & Waste Management20 November 2009Accident-reducing road improvements in HinckleyWork is starting on the second phase of a £110,000 road improvement scheme to reduce accidents along a key route in Hinckley. The work on Dodwells Road and Normandy Way, which is being carried out by Leicestershire County Council, is due to start on Monday.... 21 Nov 2009 Accident-reducing road improvements in Hinckley |
Seven schools receive £16 million revamp | |
![]() | 20 November 2009Seven schools receive. .... 21 Nov 2009 Seven schools receive £16 million revamp |
Interactive event to challenge views on museum culture | |
![]() | University of Leicester PhD organise 'Materiality and Intangibility: Contested Zones', an event for researchers and artists working with museums... 20 Nov 2009 Interactive event to challenge views on museum culture |
An audience with Apollo 16 Astronaut Charlie Duke | |
![]() | 10th Man to walk on the moon to lecture at the University of Leicester in a filled-to-capacity public event... 20 Nov 2009 An audience with Apollo 16 Astronaut Charlie Duke |
Related News
Anglo Saxon heritage revealed in annual lecture | |
|---|---|
![]() | Centre for Local History hosts W G Hoskins Lecture at the University of Leicester on Saturday 16th May at 2.30pm ... 27 Apr 2009 Anglo Saxon heritage revealed in annual lecture |
Digging the Dead at Donington le Heath Manor House | |
![]() | 5000 years of death and burial in Leicestershire and Rutland will be featured in an exhibition opening on 13th June at Donington le Heath Manor House.... 10 Jun 2008 Digging the Dead at Donington le Heath Manor House |
Fortoak announces launch of their new corporate website | |
![]() | Fortoak, a local company whose sales office is located on Derby Road in Loughborough, has announced the launch of "Fortoak. co.... 08 Jun 2007 Fortoak announces launch of their new corporate website |
Local history in Britain | |
![]() | Conference marks 50th anniversary of the publication of Leicester Professor W.G. Hoskins' 'Local History in England'... 12 Jun 2009 Local history in Britain |
Ye Olde Medieval News from the Manor House | |
![]() | Community Services24 July 2009Ye Olde Medieval News from the Manor HouseDonington le Heath Manor House, a hidden gem tucked away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, is a fantastic local attraction steeped in history with much to offer to its visitors. The 2009 edition of the Donington le Heaths Manor House News is bursting with lots of interesting information and fun events happening this year at the unique 13th Century restored manor house run by Leicestershire County Council.... 28 Jul 2009 Ye Olde Medieval News from the Manor House |
Relevant News
Fortoak announces launch of their new corporate website | |
|---|---|
![]() | Fortoak, a local company whose sales office is located on Derby Road in Loughborough, has announced the launch of "Fortoak. co.... 08 Jun 2007 Fortoak announces launch of their new corporate website |
story of slavery and its abolition | |
![]() | A travelling exhibition to mark the bicentenary of the Act to Abolish the Slave Trade reaches Donington le Heath Manor House on Wednesday 12th July.... 07 Jul 2007 story of slavery and its abolition |
Tudor Gardens | |
![]() | Budding gardeners from Loughborough or Shepshed who fancy a short trip over to Coalville are in for a special treat. Next month on Friday March 7th Donington le Heath Manor House will hold a talk on the Tudor Garden by Prebendal Manors gardener Michael (Mike) Brown.... 20 Feb 2008 Tudor Gardens |
Summer is coming at Donington le Heath | |
![]() | Donington le Heath Manor House is gearing up for a summer of informative fun with events, holiday activities, theatre and music to look forward to.... 10 Jun 2008 Summer is coming at Donington le Heath |
Digging the Dead at Donington le Heath Manor House | |
![]() | 5000 years of death and burial in Leicestershire and Rutland will be featured in an exhibition opening on 13th June at Donington le Heath Manor House.... 10 Jun 2008 Digging the Dead at Donington le Heath Manor House |
Most Read News (today)
Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood | |
|---|---|
![]() | A SERIES of free graffiti workshops could help creative youngsters avoid a brush with the law. Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, of which Charnwood Borough Council is a partner, is staging the six-week programme of graffiti workshops in three neighbourhoods to give 11 to 16-year-olds an alternative means of expression rather than daubing slogans and images on buildings throughout the Borough.... 18 Jul 2008 Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood |
Drug Testing Prisoners in Loughborough | |
![]() | Drugs testing of prisoners is to be introduced at Loughborough Police Station in a move to get offenders across the North out of crime and into treatment.... 26 Mar 2008 Drug Testing Prisoners in Loughborough |
Loughborough Tops for Teachers | |
![]() | Loughborough University s teacher training has been graded as outstanding the highest possible category by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). The grading followed a recent review of teacher training provision at the University.... 28 Apr 2008 Loughborough Tops for Teachers |
Loughborough Mentoring Scheme Expanded | |
![]() | A BENEFICIAL project which helps steer at risk youngsters away from anti-social behaviour is being expanded across Charnwood ? and new volunteers are now needed.... 12 Jun 2008 Loughborough Mentoring Scheme Expanded |
Green Flags for Loughborough and Charnwood | |
![]() | TWO of Charnwood Borough Council?s most popular open areas will be flying the flag after being nationally recognised as shining examples of outstanding green spaces.... 17 Jul 2008 Green Flags for Loughborough and Charnwood |
Most Read News (this month)
Leicestershire County Council reveals results of groundbreaking archaeology survey | |
|---|---|
![]() | Community Services29 October 2009Leicestershire County Council reveals results of groundbreaking archaeology surveyLeicestershire County Council today held a press conference at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre to announce the conclusion of a groundbreaking three year archaeological survey to locate the battle of Bosworth, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Battlefields Trust archaeologist, Glenn Foard, revealed an exciting collection of finds from the Battle of Bosworth of international archaeological significance.... 30 Oct 2009 Leicestershire County Council reveals results of groundbreaking archaeology survey |
Loughborough Fair | |
![]() | The popular, annual Charnwood Borough Council-organised event will open at 6pm on Wednesday, November 11th and run until Saturday, November 14th 2009.... 03 Nov 2009 Loughborough Fair |
Police searching for missing man have found a body | |
![]() | Police searching for missing man have found a bodyPolice searching for a 77 year old man from Loughborough, who has been missing since yesterday evening, have found the body of a man. Ernest Sanham from Park Road in Loughborough, was admitted to the Leicester General Hospital on Thursday 22nd October 2009 suffering from confusion.... 26 Oct 2009 Police searching for missing man have found a body |
Loughborough shoppers to benefit from Bonfire Night Advice | |
![]() | Information about being safe on Bonfire Night will be available for shoppers who visit Loughborough town centre on Wednesday.... 03 Nov 2009 Loughborough shoppers to benefit from Bonfire Night Advice |
GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY RAISES TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS FOR CHARITY | |
![]() | Street children in the third world and some of the most endangered animals on the planet are set to benefit from generous visitors the Great Central Railway. The award winning Leicestershire heritage line teamed up with two charities to raise money at special gala events.... 26 Oct 2009 GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY RAISES TWENTY THOUSAND POUNDS FOR CHARITY |
Most Read News (alltime)
Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood | |
|---|---|
![]() | A SERIES of free graffiti workshops could help creative youngsters avoid a brush with the law. Charnwood Community Safety Partnership, of which Charnwood Borough Council is a partner, is staging the six-week programme of graffiti workshops in three neighbourhoods to give 11 to 16-year-olds an alternative means of expression rather than daubing slogans and images on buildings throughout the Borough.... 18 Jul 2008 Graffiti Workshops in Loughborough and Charnwood |
Loughborough MP Announces Free Chess Sets for Schools | |
![]() | Andy Reed MP today announced the giving away of chess sets to schools. The chess sets are available for schools as part of a scheme to provide a quarter of a million chess sets into the school network. Negotiations with manufacturers and distributors means that ten sets and boards can be offered to every school in England. ... 13 Feb 2008 Loughborough MP Announces Free Chess Sets for Schools |
Robot in Loughborough Town Centre | |
![]() | Reports are coming in that Loughborough Town Centre was yesterday infiltrated by a giant robot. The robot which some eye witnesses say they saw in Market Place and Market Street at various times yesterday afternoon stood some 8ft tall, was metallic in colour, had blue glowing eyes and spoke in sound bites.... 27 May 2008 Robot in Loughborough Town Centre |
Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success. | |
![]() | 14 motorbikes and mini-motos have been crushed after they were confiscated by police in Loughborough during a crack down on young people who drive dangerously and inconsiderately on roads, parks and public places.... 02 Jul 2008 Mini moto campaign in Loughborough is a crushing success. |
Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire | |
![]() | Radical changes to social care in Leicestershire will be outlined at a meeting next week. The County Council wants to personalise its social care and will update the Cabinet on the plans next Tuesday (29th July).... 22 Jul 2008 Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire |
















