The Anglo-Saxons had developed the fortified settlement known as a burh. The settlement was
surrounded by banks and ditches with wooden palisades on top. A number of gatehouses
controlled who entered the burh. The buildings inside the burh were mostly made from
wood or wattle and daub with thatched rooves. The Old-English word for a settlement was a 'tun' which
over time became the word we use today, town.
Growth of Towns
The number and size of towns started to grow after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Towns grew up around the new castles because of the protection given by the Norman invaders. Towns
also started to enlarge at busy harbours, river crossings and major crossroads where people could
set up shops to sell to passers by. There were plenty of opportunities, work and new occupations to
be taken up. Tradesmen moved into the towns to supply the needs of the inhabitants.
Protection
Deep ditches and strong walls were built around the towns to protect the towns people from attack and
as a sign of wealth. Strong gatehouses were constructed at intervals around the walls with drawbridges for extra
protection. At night the the drawbridges were raised and the gates were shut.
Markets and Fairs
Markets and fairs were the main way in which medieval people bought and
sold goods and these usually took place every week in the towns.
Once or twice a year huge fairs were held in the bigger towns. These fairs could
last for days and even weeks. The range of goods available was much larger than
the local markets and included goods from other countries. Due to the
Crusades there was much more interest in foreign goods and merchants from the
East were welcomed to sell fine clothes, wines, spices and lace. One of the
largest fairs in England was the Stourbridge fair held near Cambridge after the
September harvest and could last for five weeks.
Taxes
Towns had to pay taxes to the king or local lord. Taxes were raised from tradesmen and visitors
to the town. Gatehouses made it easy to collect taxes as everyone had to pass through a gate to enter or leave.
Taxes had to be paid on all the goods that were to be sold in the markets and fairs. Where the
town was next to a river the gatehouses were sometimes built in the middle of the bridges; the river acting
as a natural moat.
Merchants
Guilds
In the towns traders and merchants formed guilds. The members of the guilds
helped protect each others interests and also control quality
ensuring all the members did work to a suitable standard.
Over time separate guilds were created for each type of trade and it
was common for all shops selling one type of product to be located in the same
area of the town. The idea of selling one kind of product in one area still
happens today. Some cities have jewellery quarters for example.
Members of the
guilds paid a membership fee and the guilds became powerful and wealthy. Some
guilds built their own meeting places call guildhalls where meetings and banquets took
place.
Guilds also helped their members if they fell ill and looked after their family
after they died. Guilds used their wealth to put on plays called mystery plays that
were based on stories from the Bible. The word mystery is probably a mispronunciation
of a medieval word for guild or craftsmen.
Henry II recognised the powers of the guilds and wanted his share of their wealth. Henry
claimed that every guild had to be licensed and pay a tax straight to the King. Any guild
that was not licensed was fined.
Fires
Wooden houses with thatched rooves were a constant fire hazard in medieval towns. In 1135/6 a fire that started on
London Bridge spread across a large part of the city of London damaging St. Paul's Cathedral. In 1189 a law was passed called
the London Assize in response. To protect the buildings from fire the law stated that the lower
floor of new houses must be built from stone and the roofs should be tiled. The quality of the stonework and tiles
depended on the wealth of the owner, but it was hoped that this measure would put an end to the destruction.
