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IMC 2010: Sessions

Session 1315: Medieval Roads: Material and Cultural Aspects

Wednesday 14 July 2010, 16.30-18.00

Organisers:Valerie Allen, Department of English, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
John B. Dillon, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Moderator/Chair:Sarah Rees Jones, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York
Paper 1315-aSources for the English Medieval Road System
(Language: English)
Paul Hindle, Manchester Geographical Society
Index terms: Archives and Sources, Geography and Settlement Studies, Local History
Paper 1315-bLe strade della guarigione: vie di comunicazione, monasteri, ospedali e santuari (Italia centro-nord, XIII-XV secolo)
(Language: Italiano)
Isabella Gagliardi, Dipartimento di Studi Storici & Geografici, Università di Firenze
Index terms: Ecclesiastical History, Geography and Settlement Studies, Social History
Paper 1315-cActs of Mercy: Wills and Roads
(Language: English)
Valerie Allen, Department of English, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
Index terms: Lay Piety, Local History
Abstract

Paper -a:
Whereas our knowledge of the Roman road system has always been strongly aided by archaeological evidence, the fact that medieval roads were not formally constructed makes any investigation of them difficult. What remains of the field evidence is of two kinds: tracks and bridges. Tracks sometimes remain intact, especially where the land has not been ploughed. Even where tracks have gone across farmland they can often still be seen on aerial photographs, either as actual tracks or as crop marks. On the ground the most impressive feature is the 'holloway' or sunken road, found when a road descended a slope and became virtually a stream channel in times of heavy rain. Overall there is considerable evidence to show which were the most important national routes. Research, whether at national or local level, must involve work both in the library and in the field. The first step is to establish the Roman network, and then to see how much of it remained in use in medieval times. Then comes the more difficult task of searching for the medieval roads. It is necessary to search out whatever documents survive, maps ancient and modern, and aerial photographs. Finally armed with all this evidence it is time to go into the field to see what, if anything, remains of the medieval roads, or at least to see what options were open to the medieval traveller.

Paper -b:
L'intervento sarà volto ad illustrare il processo di formazione di un sistema integrato tra istituzioni ecclesiastiche, luoghi di devozione, luoghi di assistenza agli ammalati e ai pellegrini lungo alcune direttrici delle reti viarie del centro-nord Italia. In particolare saranno esaminati alcuni 'casi' significativi perché capaci di evidenziare le modalità generative di tale processo. Da un lato saranno presentati quei luoghi di culto (Il Volto Santo di Lucca, il Santuario della Madonna di Montenero presso Livorno, il Santuario della Madonna di Monsummano) che funsero da promotori dello sviluppo di una rete assistenziale diversificata sul territorio mostrandone i nessi con la rete stradale locale; dall'altro invece, verranno saranno presentate quelle strutture assistenziali che, sorte lungo le vie di intenso traffico, avrebbero finito per generare a loro volta luoghi di culto e santuari.

Paper -c:
Throughout the later Middle Ages testators routinely bequeathed monies for the repair - less frequently for the building - of roads and bridges. Such bequests were considered one of the corporal acts of mercy - giving shelter (loosely understood) to the stranger. Taking the evidence of the wills of York, England, with occasional allusion to wills probated in other English dioceses, I consider more carefully what such an act of mercy entails. Staying close to the city of York and its environs, I consider which roads tend to be the 'beneficiaries' of such bequests, for many wills specify particular routes and locations for repair. For the most part, the bequests are given to keeping open and in good order the lines of connection between towns. I ask after the kind of person who makes such a bequest, taking into consideration the trade, where mentioned, of the testator, the amount of money bequeathed, and its value in relation to other charitable bequests in the will. Finally I inquire into the frequency of such bequests, in so far as it is possible to speculate based on the partial evidence we have. Fleshing out thus the profile of the people who gave to mend York's roads, I consider the cultural and religious importance of the bequests, both to testator and community.