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Home > Hertfordshire Publications Landscape history > The Origins of Hertfordshire
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The Origins of Hertfordshire

Author: Tom Williamson

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"

“This is an excellent book and, in this reader's opinion at least, ought to become a classic, standing on bookshelves alongside Hoskins, Finberg and Taylor for many years to come.”

-Susan Oosthuizen,
Medieval Settlement Research

Ebook formats

About the book

“This book works... at two levels: an excellent and thorough introduction to the making of England from late prehistory to the medieval period; and a detailed exploration of one of its component parts, a shire with a unique history but from which more universal lessons might be learned. Thoroughly recommended.” Richard Jones, Landscape History

“Tom Williamson's analysis expertly combines archaeological and historical evidence to produce this detailed exploration of Hertfordshire's landscape and early inhabitants.” Peter Bysouth, British Association for Local History

This book examines the history of Hertfordshire from late prehistoric times to the thirteenth century.

It looks at the origins of the county and the early evolution of its landscape and, in examining the subtle and complex relationship between early territorial organisation and natural topography, emphasises the surprising degree of territorial and administrative continuity from the Roman period through to the time of the Norman Conquest.

Hertfordshire is often described as an ‘unremarkable’ county, lacking a clearly defined identity and, lying close to London, extensively suburbanised. In fact it has a long and complex history and a rich archaeological heritage; developments in the remote past continue to shape its character and appearance to the present day.

  • More about the book

    This is a greatly expanded and extensively revised version of the first edition (published in 2000), which takes full account both of the mass of new archaeological and historical evidence that has emerged over the last decade, and of the latest theories.

  • Read a sample chapter

    Read an extract from The Origins of Hertfordshire

  • About the Author/s:

    Tom Williamson

    Tom Williamson is Professor of Landscape History at the University of East Anglia. He has written widely on landscape archaeology, agricultural history, and the history of landscape design.

    He has extensive experience not only of archaeological and documentary research, but also of applying historical information in the conservation, restoration and interpretation of historic landscapes.

    Tom has worked on numerous occasions on legal cases, providing reports in rights of way and boundary disputes, and appearing in court as an expert witness.

    Other titles by this author

    • Hertfordshire: A landscape history – with Anne Rowe
    • The Origins of Hertfordshire
    • Rethinking Ancient Woodland - with Gerry Barnes
    • Trees in England - with Gerry Barnes and Toby Pillatt

ISBN: 978-1-905313-95-2 Format: Paperback, 288pp Published: Sep 2010

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Any questions

Contact us at UH Press if you have any queries or would like to find out more about this book.

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