Rethinking the Great Transition: Community and Economic Growth in County Durham, 1349-1660

This case study of two rural parishes in County Durham, England, provides an alternate view on the economic development involved in the transition from medieval to modern, partly explaining England's rise to global economic dominance in the seventeenth century. Agrarian expansion saw the emergence of large farms on the bishopric of Durham, with individualism developing within a strong parish and village community. The prosperity of these men is reflected in their lands, livestock, and consumer goods, but not all shared in this prosperity. Through reformation and rebellion, these parishes prospered without experiencing severe disruption or destruction.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This case study delves into the economic transformation of two rural parishes in County Durham, England, during the transition from medieval to modern times. It offers an alternative perspective on England's rise to global economic dominance in the seventeenth century, partly accounting for its ascendancy. While coal mining did not reach these parishes until the nineteenth century, they exemplify agrarian expansion. Factors such as a low population, favorable seigniorial administration, and a commercialized society led to the emergence of large farms on the Bishopric of Durham shortly after the Black Death. These secure copyhold and leasehold tenures were among the earliest known in England. Within this context, individualism flourished within a robust parish and village community that fostered growth while enforcing conformity. Tenants enjoyed freedom to farm as they wished, within certain limits. Coupled with low rents, this facilitated a rapid expansion of agricultural production in the sixteenth century, as population rose and the coal trade expanded rapidly. The prosperity of these individuals is evident in their lands, livestock, and consumer goods. However, it is important to note that not all shared in this prosperity, as the poor and landless population increased due to population growth.

Through reformation and rebellion, these and other parishes experienced prosperity without experiencing severe disruption or destruction. Agrarian development in north-eastern England unfolded as an evolution rather than a revolution. This study presents England's economic development as a cohesive narrative, woven together from a diverse range of regional experiences occurring at different times and at varying paces.

Weight: 484g
Dimension: 241 x 160 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192849878