- Fellow type
- UK Fellow
- Year elected
- 1995
- Sections
- Archaeology, Medieval Studies
After an early start in archaeology, he became an economic and social historian of the middle ages. His first book (based on his PhD thesis) traced the development of a great estate, of the bishops of Worcester, paying equal attention to the lords' management of their lands, and the activities of their peasant tenants. Subsequent work examined the standards of living of all sections of late medieval society in England, and then traced social end economic development in Britain from the 9th to the 16th centuries. He also explored the evidence for a transition to capitalism towards the end of the middle ages, following this with a study of trade and farming of a Cotswold wool merchant. He also works in medieval archaeology, focussing on the origin, development and decline of rural settlements and landscapes. His articles and essays include studies of towns, deserted villages,houses, popular rebellions, social mentalities, diet, consumers and luxury goods, and medieval goats. He is currently writing a book on peasant farming.
Current post
Emeritus Professor of History, Centre for English Local History, School of History, Politics and International Relations, University of Leicester
Past appointments
University of Leicester Professor of Regional and Local History
2001 -
University of Birmingham Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader, Professor
1970 - 2001
University of Edinburgh Assistant Lecturer in Medieval History
1967 - 1970
British Academy appointments
Member of Council
Publications
Village, hamlet and field: changing medieval settlements in central England
Carenza Lewis, Patrick Mitchell-Fox and Christopher Dyer - Published in 1997 by Windgather Press
