'… the volumes supply the first truly urban country with a fitting and comprehensive history … a coherent and systematic survey which is both scholarly and accessible … some genuinely new and innovative investigations which fill real gaps in our knowledge … essential reading to all interested in the history of medieval Britain and will undoubtedly inspire new research into towns as institutions and as social and economic communities.' The Ricardian

• Preface; Plates; Maps and figures; Tables; Abbreviations; Acknowledgements; List of contributors; Part I. Introductory: 1. Introduction D. M. Palliser; 2. The origins of British towns D. M. Palliser; Part II. The Early Middle Ages c.650–c.1300: 3. General survey Grenville Astill; 4. Power and authority James Campbell; 5. Society and population Richard Holt; 6. The economy of British towns Richard Britnell; 7. Churches, education and literacy in towns Julia Barrow; 8. The topography of towns D. M. Palliser, T. R. Slater and E. Patricia Dennison; 9. London from the post-Roman period to 1300 Derek Keene; 10. The large towns to c.1300 David A. Hinton; 11. Small towns 650–1270 John Blair; Part III. The Later Middle Ages c.1300–c.1540: 12. General survey Barrie Dobson; 13. Government, power and authority S. H. Rigby and E. Ewan; 14. The economy of British towns Richard Britnell; 15. Urban culture and the church Gervase Rosser; 16. The built environment John Schofield and Geoffrey Stell; 17. London Caroline M. Barron; 18. The greater towns Jennifer Kermode; 19. Port towns: England and Wales Maryanne Kowaleski; 20. Small towns 1270–1540 Christopher Dyer; Part IV. Regional Surveys: 21. Regional introduction (England and Wales) Derek Keene and D. M. Palliser; 22a. The south-east of England Derek Keene; 22b. The south-west of England T. R. Slater; 22c. The Midlands Christopher Dyer; 22d. East Anglia Barbel Brodt; 22e. Wales and the Marches Ralph Griffiths; 22f. Northern towns Jennifer Kermode; 23. Scotland E. Patricia Dennison and G. Grant Simpson; Part V. Conclusion: 24. Conclusion D. M. Palliser; Appendix: ranking lists of English medieval towns Alan Dyer; Select Bibliography; Index.

'… the volumes supply the first truly urban country with a fitting and comprehensive history … a coherent and systematic survey which is both scholarly and accessible … some genuinely new and innovative investigations which fill real gaps in our knowledge … essential reading to all interested in the history of medieval Britain and will undoubtedly inspire new research into towns as institutions and as social and economic communities.' The Ricardian

• Preface; Plates; Maps and figures; Tables; Abbreviations; Acknowledgements; List of contributors; Part I. Introductory: 1. Introduction D. M. Palliser; 2. The origins of British towns D. M. Palliser; Part II. The Early Middle Ages c.650–c.1300: 3. General survey Grenville Astill; 4. Power and authority James Campbell; 5. Society and population Richard Holt; 6. The economy of British towns Richard Britnell; 7. Churches, education and literacy in towns Julia Barrow; 8. The topography of towns D. M. Palliser, T. R. Slater and E. Patricia Dennison; 9. London from the post-Roman period to 1300 Derek Keene; 10. The large towns to c.1300 David A. Hinton; 11. Small towns 650–1270 John Blair; Part III. The Later Middle Ages c.1300–c.1540: 12. General survey Barrie Dobson; 13. Government, power and authority S. H. Rigby and E. Ewan; 14. The economy of British towns Richard Britnell; 15. Urban culture and the church Gervase Rosser; 16. The built environment John Schofield and Geoffrey Stell; 17. London Caroline M. Barron; 18. The greater towns Jennifer Kermode; 19. Port towns: England and Wales Maryanne Kowaleski; 20. Small towns 1270–1540 Christopher Dyer; Part IV. Regional Surveys: 21. Regional introduction (England and Wales) Derek Keene and D. M. Palliser; 22a. The south-east of England Derek Keene; 22b. The south-west of England T. R. Slater; 22c. The Midlands Christopher Dyer; 22d. East Anglia Barbel Brodt; 22e. Wales and the Marches Ralph Griffiths; 22f. Northern towns Jennifer Kermode; 23. Scotland E. Patricia Dennison and G. Grant Simpson; Part V. Conclusion: 24. Conclusion D. M. Palliser; Appendix: ranking lists of English medieval towns Alan Dyer; Select Bibliography; Index.