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A History of Witham
   Witham 1500-1700 book coverWitham 1500-1700: Making a Living by Janet Gyford
Description Contents Reviews Surnames

Contents
List of Mapsiv
List of Tables, Graphs and Family Treesiv
List of Photosv
List of Drawingsvii
List of Facsimilesviii
Prefacex
Maps of Essex and the Area Around Withamxii
Acknowledgementsxiii
Map of Modern Witham and Some Historic Sitesxiv
Chapter 1 - Introduction: Witham Before 15001
Chipping Hill1
Newland Street2
Fields and Outlying Settlements2
Later Medieval Witham3
Chapter 2 - Population and Society4
Numbers4
Movement4
Plague and Disease6
Society9
1523 - Lay Subsidy9
1636 - Ship Money10
1673 - Hearth Tax12
Probate Value of Goods at Death15
Inventories15
Total values17
Chapter 3 - Building and Living Conditions21
Building Construction21
Brick27
Window Glass33
Decoration33
Accommodation34
Living Conditions41
Chapter 4 - Roads and Transport44
Routes45
Road Conditions48
Bridges51
Means of Transport55
The Post59
Chapter 5 - Land and Agriculture62
Land62
Manors of Chipping and Newland62
Demesne of Chipping and Newland69
Outer Manors66
Powershall73
Blunts Hall77
Howbridge Hall79
Ishams (Little Howbridge)83
Vicarage (Hog End) Manor84
Other Large Farm Units (Over 50 Acres)84
Smaller Units (50 Acres or Less)88
Sizes of Holdings and Farming Units90
Agricultural Methods92
Methods in Witham92
Meadows and Hay98
Woodland and Wood100
Grain Crops103
Hops105
Garden Crops105
Horses107
Cattle107
Pigs108
Sheep110
Chapter 6 - Processing, Crafts and Trade111
The Role of Witham in the Area111
Regulation of Commerce116
Processing118
Craftsmen122
Tradesmen129
The Market138
Chapter 7 - The Cloth Industry143
Before 1500143
1500 to 1540143
1540 to 1600144
1600 to 1628145
1629 to 1650147
c.1650 Onwards147
Clothiers150
Distribution Centres156
Carding and Combing158
Spinning160
Weaving161
Fulling167
Roughing169
Shearing170
Tentering170
Chapter 8 - People173
County Families173
The Southcott Family173
Witham Place175
Judge John Southcott177
Elizabeth Southcott/Southwell178
John Southcott esquire179
Edward Southcott esquire180
Sir John Southcott180
Sir Edward Southcott180
The Barnardiston Family and William Towse181
Dame Katherine Barnardiston182
The Gentry185
The Garrard Family186
John Garrard(1)186
Jerome Garrard(1)189
Jerome Garrard(2)190
Robert Garrard(2)191
Jerome Garrard(3)192
Jerome (Jerry) Garrard(4)192
John Garrard(2) and John Garrard(3)192
The Armond, Brodway and Jackson Families193
George Armond(1)193
John Armond195
George Armond(2)197
Elizabeth Armond197
Thomas Brodway and Abigail Jackson197
Adam Jackson and Robert Jackson(1)198
John Jackson(1), junior, and Sarah his mother199
John Jackson(A), senior199
William Jackson(A)200
The Gravener Family200
John Gravener(1)200
John Gravener(2)200
John Gravener(3)202
John Gravener(4)202
John Gravener(5)203
The Barwell Family203
Robert Barwell(1)205
Martha Barwell(1)206
Robert Barwell(2)206
Newman Barwell207
Sarah Barwell and Martha Barwell(2)208
Robert Barwell(3)208
Robert Barwell(4)210
Middling People212
The Poor216
Poverty and the life cycle217
The care of the poor220
Dame Katherine Barnardiston's Gifts223
Almshouses224
Chapter 9 - Postscript226
Constants226
Chronology227
Religion and politics229
Suggested reading230
Notes231
Index266
An impression of the central part of Witham in about 1680 (end paper)
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