Reconstructing Medieval Towns

The analysis of medieval towns relies on the fact that the property boundaries which define urban house-plots (burgages) are very unlikely to change over time. Excavations in York and Southampton have shown that some plot boundaries survived unchanged for a millennium or more, carefully marked out using hedges, fences or walls. Plots were laid out based on a standard perch (16.5 ft). In Burford it is still possible to find plots which have retained their original dimensions from the late 12th century.

More information is found in the attached documents.