Course:History 344 Nasty Families/Regions/Nottinghamshire
The county of Nottinghamshire lies in the East Midlands of England. It was settled by Angles around the 5th century, who advanced from Lincolnshire along the Fosseway, where they settled in the fertile districts of the south and east[1]. At the time, the region was mostly occupied by the famous Sherwood Forest. It began as a settlement called Snotta inga ham, which gradually became Snottingham, and then Nottingham[2]. Much of Nottinghamshire north of the River Trent was royal demesne[3] centered on the five great manors of Mansfield, Grimston, Oswaldbeck, Dunham, and Arnold. In the early period, considerably more land had belonged to the crown. The Crown granted Nottinghamshire a series of charters between 1155 and 1449, which increased their powers of self-government.
In medieval times, Nottinghamshire’s main industry was wool making. Malting and tanning were also among the main occupational interests in the town[4]. The malting trade was supported by plenty of arable farming in the area, and many people farmed either full or part time. However, by the 1530s, the manufacture of wool declined, as well as tanning. New industries soon rose to replace them. By the late 17th century, silk and wool hosiery were prosperous[5] . Glass making also became a new industry. Glass windows were rare in the Middle Ages, but became common in the 17th century. Innkeepers in Nottinghamshire also brewed their own ale[6] .
Nottingham Castle, built in 1067, was originally an earthwork and timber defence, until it was changed by Henry II into a royal palace, regularly visited by medieval monarchs[7] . Nottinghamshire saw little of royalty during the Tudor era, but was honoured with frequent visits during the Stuart era. James I did not visit the area on his way to London in 1603, but did eventually pay a visit in August of 1612, where he stayed for one night at Thurland Hall, the largest house in 17th century Nottingham[8] .
From the mid-seventeenth century, Nottinghamshire enjoyed a period of urban renewal, which included a transformation of the town’s housing, and a major restoration of the streets and public buildings[9] . Inside these houses, an upheaval in customer spending was reflected in a range of new furnishings. The ‘middling sorts’ were able to afford mirrors, chinaware, books, and other luxury items on a level previously unknown[10] . The quality of life began to improve, and new leisure activities were becoming popular. These included bowling greens, assembly rooms, the race course on the Forest, plays, and concerts[11].
- ↑ H.H Swinnerton, Cambridge County Geographies: Nottinghamshire, (Nottingham: University College, 1910), 46
- ↑ The Saxon word ham meant village. The word inga meant 'belonging to' and Snotta was a man. http://www.localhistories.org/nottingham.html
- ↑ Legal possession of land as one’s own
- ↑ Professor John Beckett “Nottingham Overview: the 16th and 17th Centuries”, The Nottingham Heritage Gateway, accessed January 25, 2012, from http://www.nottsheritagegateway.org.uk/places/nottingham/nottinghamc16to17.htm
- ↑ ibid
- ↑ ibid
- ↑ Professor John Beckett “Nottingham Overview: Before 1500”, The Nottingham Heritage Gateway, accessed January 25, 2012, from http://www.nottsheritagegateway.org.uk/places/nottingham/nottinghampre1500.htm
- ↑ Cornelius Brown, A History of Nottinghamshire, (London: Harvard College, 1892), 14
- ↑ Professor John Beckett “Nottingham Overview: 1600-1800” The Nottingham Heritage Gateway, accessed January 25, 2012, from http://www.nottsheritagegateway.org.uk/places/nottingham/nottingham1660to1800.htm
- ↑ ibid
- ↑ ibid