Book Description

This is the first comprehensive yet accessible study of the history of Bassishaw Ward c.1200 - c.1600. It provides a detailed analysis of how the ward evolved physically, politically, financially, and spiritually and is set within the context of medieval London studies. Bassishaw, one of the smallest wards in medieval London, was at the heart of city government and the cloth trade. City merchants and tradesmen gravitated to the area not just for trade, but also to seek legal advice and arbitration. Bassishaw's only parish church, St Michael Bassishaw, benefitted from the presence of affluent merchants who chose in live within its jurisdiction. The wealth of surviving city records make it possible to challenge preconceptions about the past; highlighting the complex dynamics of city government, economy, and its inhabitants; allowing parallels to be drawn between the past and present.