W. G. Hoskins - Local History in England

'... the student of local history can have no better guide than Dr Hoskins has provided in this admirable book.... Written in an unassuming, almost conversational style... the book contains an enormous amount of information and yet never makes the reader feel that he is being crammed with facts. It would not be easy to discover anything really important that has been overlooked.'

The Times Literary Supplement

'This book may fairly be described as indispensable to anyone researching in local history. Dr Hoskins puts his learning at the service of fellow workers; not only does he tell them what is to be found and how to go about finding it, he also encourages and directs them to the most profitable kind of inquiry. His book should have a most wholesome influence.'

The Times Educational Supplement

'It is impossible not to be instructed and excited by Mr Hoskins' writing.... LOCAL HISTORY IN ENGLAND is an encouraging and practical guidebook to those who would wish to know, and possibly to write something about, where they live. Nowhere in England, not the flashiest shopping arcade on the furthest new 'conurbation' is without interest when seen through the eyes of Mr Hoskins.'

John Betjeman, Daily Telegraph

'I think the clue to the enduring value of this book is to be found in the positive way in which techniques and tools are applied to their essential task.... This is a new approach to a big subject. It meets a real need.'

E. W. Martin, Observer

'As was recognised when it first appeared Professor Hoskins's book is a classic guide to the problems of fieldwork, topography, buildings, and of almost every conceivable facet of the story of English parishes, towns or counties and their sources. A scholar of unequalled experience in this field... Professor Hoskins has the ability to excite and instruct in a clear, expressive, almost conversational stvle.'

Birmingham Post

W. G. Hoskins

THIRD EDITION

First published 1959 by Pearson Education Limited
Second edition 1972
Third edition 1984

Published 2013 by Routledge
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Copyright 1959, 1972, 1984, Taylor & Francis.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Notices
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ISBN 13:978-0-582-49371-1 (pbk)

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

Hoskins, W. G.

Local history in England. 3rd ed.

1. England-History, Local
2. England-Historiography

I. Title

942 DAI

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Hoskins, W. G. (William George), 1908

Local History in England

Bibliography: p.
Includes index.

1. Great Britain-History, Local-Historiography.

2. Local history. I. Title.
DA1.H6 1984 942'.0072 84-4385

The aims and objects of this book on English local history are explained in the first few pages of my first chapter. It is not intended to be a guide to the immense range of sources that are available for the study of local history in this country, for suitable guides already exist to which I make reference in my text. This is mainly a book of advice and encouragement for local historians in any part of England, dealing as fully as possible with those problems and aspects of local history which I think have hitherto been neglected and which to my mind are worthy of attention, and referring only in passing to those aspects which others have dealt with sufficiently. This treatment is especially apparent in the two chapters on towns (6, 7), where I have concentrated on their topography and their social and economic history, and have given virtually no space to their constitutional and parliamentary history. It is not that I consider these subjects less important, but that others have treated of them sufficiently fully to give the local historian all the guidance he needs as to the problems and sources.

It should be noted that I exclude the local history of Wales and London. These require separate books, and also a knowledge that I do not possess. I also exclude prehistoric archaeology for the reasons given in the text, though there is a certain amount about pre-Conquest and medieval archaeology in the chapters on Fieldwork (8, 9) and elsewhere.

A considerable number of references for further reading are scattered throughout the text of each chapter and in the select bibliography at the end of the book. These lists of references make no claim at all to be comprehensive. If I had attempted to achieve this, they would have added excessively to the length of the book and still would not have given general satisfaction.

This book is based to a considerable extent upon lectures given at Oxford on the problems and sources of English local history, and on the topography and social history of English towns. It could well have been half as long again, but I am anxious that it should reach as many impecunious local historians as possible at a reasonable price. It throws out, I believe, a considerable number of ideas on a variety of subjects which I have not attempted, in most cases, to follow up or to work out completely, believing that most local historians can do this for themselves in the light of their own circumstances. Every local community is unique in some ways, and any general ideas have to be modified accordingly. I hope also that the book will be useful to all teachers of local history, from secondary schools to adult education classes.

It remains only to thank those who have helped me with the various versions of this book. Jack Simmons read the original text in typescript and in proof, and gave me the benefit of his critical sense and of his constructive suggestions. Maurice Barley was kind enough to read the two chapters on Field work in the same spirit, and they benefited accordingly. To Maurice Beresford I am indebted for permission to use his unpublished figures from the 1377 poll tax in my appendix on the Ranking of Provincial Towns, and for checking my own figures from the 1334 tax assessment in the same appendix. Mr C. A. F. Meekings very kindly performed a similar service in allowing me to use his figures from the hearth tax assessment of 1662, and in checking my list for that year. The trouble he and Maurice Beresford took over these apparently simple tables of figures will, I hope, be appreciated by many local historians as well as myself. To Maurice Barley I am also indebted for permission to use his plan of the farmhouse at Boycombe, which he drew specially for my book, a remainder of one of our many pleasant expeditions in the field together. The late Professor H. P. R. Finberg was kind enough to read the proofs of the original edition and to put me right on certain points for which I am duly grateful.