Ideal and Reality in English Episcopal Medieval Town Planning

Abstract

The detailed planning of English medieval towns has received scant attention from scholars. Two towns in Midland England, Stratford-upon-Avon and Lichfield, founded in the twelfth century by episcopal lords are investigated to demonstrate the nature of the medieval town plans at the time of their foundation. It is shown that the ideal geometrical plan in the mind of the surveyor was adapted in a number of ways as development proceeded. First, features of the established pre-urban landscape were incorporated into the plan by the surveyor himself. Secondly, the development of burgages by initial plot-holders further distorted the ideal plan to provide a new reality. The detailed studies are set in the context of episcopal town-founding in medieval England.