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College News
26 May 2004
Book launch at London's historic Guildhall for Royal Holloway ProfessorRoyal Holloway Professor
and leading historian of London, Caroline Barron launched her
new book, London in the Later Middle Ages - Government and
People 1200 - 1500, at London's historic Guildhall on |
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Published by Oxford University Press, the book's launch took place in Guildhall's impressive Great Hall, with speeches from Professor Barron, Tony Halmos of the Corporation of London and Sir Keith Thomas from Oxford University Press. Home to the Corporation of London and the centre of city government since the Middle Ages, Guildhall was a fitting setting for the launch of Professor Barron's new work.
The book provides the first full account of the evolution of the government of London, from the days of the Commune in the late twelfth century to the Tudor period. Professor Barron shows how the elected rulers of London developed ways of dealing with both demanding monarchs and quarrelsome city inhabitants. The remarkable survival of the city's own records makes it possible to trace, in unexpected detail, the inner workings of civic politics and government over three hundred years. An invaluable source for historians, the book provides detailed lists of city-office holders.
The historic Guildhall building dates back to 1411. Having survived both the Great Fire of London and the Blitz, it is the only secular stone structure built prior to 1666 still standing in the City. The word 'Guildhall' is thought to originate from the Anglo-Saxon word for 'gild', which means 'payment', and therefore Guildhall is likely to have been a location where citizens paid their taxes.
A medieval specialist, Professor Barron's research interests lie in the History of the City of London, the Reign of Richard II and the History of Women. She has written numerous works in recent years, including a book on Guildhall itself, The Medieval Guildhall of London (London). A member of Royal Holloway's History Department, Professor Barron currently teaches medieval history to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
London in the Later Middle Ages - Government and People 1200 - 1500, by Professor Caroline M. Barron is available in hardback, priced at £55.
ENDS
Photos of Guildhall are available on request
For further information and
photos contact Royal Holloway, University of London,
Press Office:
Christine Long, Press & PR Officer
01784 443967, email: christine.long@rhul.ac.uk
Vicky Cousins, Assistant
Press & Communications Officer
01784 414480, email: victoria.cousins@rhul.ac.uk
Editor's Notes
The History Department at Royal Holloway, University of London is highly rated for both the quality of its teaching and its research, gaining a grade 5 in the last Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Many members of staff are the leading international experts in their fields and all are active researchers. Students have access to some of the richest facilities for historical research anywhere in the world, including the College's substantial library collections, the nearby Public Record Office, British Library and libraries of the University of London. For further information visit: www.rhul.ac.uk/history/
Guildhall
As the home of the Corporation of London, Guildhall has been the centre
of City government since the Middle Ages. The word 'guildhall' is said
to derive from the Anglo-Saxon 'gild' meaning payment, so it was probably
a place where citizens would pay their taxes. The present Guildhall
was begun in 1411 and, having survived both the Great Fire of London
and the Blitz, it is the only secular stone structure dating from before
1666 still standing in the City. It is likely that at least one earlier
guildhall existed on or near the current site. References to a London
guildhall are made in a document dating back to 1128 and the current
hall's west crypt is thought to be part of a late-13th century building.
Remains of a long-lost Roman amphitheatre discovered in 1987 underneath
what is now Guildhall Yard indicate that the site of Guildhall was significant
as far back as Roman times.
The Corporation of London
The Corporation of London provides local government services for the
City of London, the financial and commercial heart of Britain. The Corporation
is committed to maintaining and enhancing the status of the business
City as the world's leading international financial and business centre
through its policies and services. Its responsibilities also extend
far beyond the City boundaries and include management of the Barbican
Centre, Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, Epping Forest, Hampstead
Heath, three wholesale food markets, as well as acting as the London
Port Health Authority. Visit www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/
for further information.
